Several projects examine wheel running as reinforcement for operant behavior

Wheel running as reinforcement:

    Access to a running wheel can function as a reinforcer in rats. Several schedules of reinforcement have been studied. In addition, visual discriminations, even matching to sample, can be sustained with wheel running reinforcement.

1) Link to published article that can be downloaded.
2) Download video clip of rat pressing a lever 10 times (Fixed Ratio 10) to get access to 10 sec of running.
 

Wheel running can be recorded in detail

    Speed of running, direction of running, and duration of individual bouts of running can be dected on-line.

1) Link to abstract at Measuring Behavior 1998.

2) Link to more information
 

Circadian Rhythms of operant behavior with wheel running reinforcement:

    Rats can be maintained with free food and water for weeks in the same environment. Access to running in a wheel was made contingent on pressing a lever or on correct performance on a matching to sample task. Circadian patterns of the operant behavior were established quickly and were maintained for some time during extinction of the operant

1)Link to published article that can be downloaded.
 

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