SCALING OF STIMULUS DURATION BY PIGEONS

Pigeons were presented with a series of key-illumination time periods. During these periods two response keys were lit, one by white light and the other by red or green. White-key responses changed the color on the other key and green- and red-key responses intermittently produced food. Choice responses were reinforced at either of two intervals timed from the onset of the stimulus period. Food was scheduled for green responses during the shorter interval in some stimulus periods and food was scheduled for red-key responses at the longer interval during alternate stimulus periods. The temporal location of food in the stimulus periods was varied across conditions. Across conditions, the pigeons responded on the green key until the time at which green-key responses might be reinforced had passed; then, the probability of red-key responses increased as the time approached at which red-key responses might be reinforced. In all conditions, the pigeons, changed from green-key to red-key responses at the time that was an equal relative temporal distance from the two intervals where these responses were reinforced.