How do animals weigh conflicting information about reward sources over time? Comparing dynamic averaging models
Abstract Optimal foraging theory suggests that animals make decisions which maximize their food intake per unit time when foraging, but the mechanisms animals use to track the value of behavioral alternatives and choose between them remain unclear. Several models for how animals integrate past exper...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | Animal Cognition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01840-2 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832585470489395200 |
|---|---|
| author | Jack Van Allsburg Timothy A. Shahan |
| author_facet | Jack Van Allsburg Timothy A. Shahan |
| author_sort | Jack Van Allsburg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Optimal foraging theory suggests that animals make decisions which maximize their food intake per unit time when foraging, but the mechanisms animals use to track the value of behavioral alternatives and choose between them remain unclear. Several models for how animals integrate past experience have been suggested. However, these models make differential predictions for the occurrence of spontaneous recovery of choice: a behavioral phenomenon in which a hiatus from the experimental environment results in animals reverting to a behavioral allocation consistent with a reward distribution from the more distant past, rather than one consistent with their most recently experienced distribution. To explore this phenomenon and compare these models, three free-operant experiments with rats were conducted using a serial reversal design. In Phase 1, two responses (A and B) were baited with pellets on concurrent variable interval schedules, favoring option A. In Phase 2, lever baiting was reversed to favor option B. Rats then entered a delay period, where they were maintained at weight in their home cages and no experimental sessions took place. Following this delay, preference was assessed using initial responding in test sessions where levers were presented, but not baited. Models were compared in performance, including an exponentially weighted moving average, the Temporal Weighting Rule, and variants of these models. While the data provided strong evidence of spontaneous recovery of choice, the form and extent of recovery was inconsistent with the models under investigation. Potential interpretations are discussed in relation to both the decision rule and valuation functions employed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-00c5a6c6fcc8437cb0fc9c622cc539be |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1435-9456 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Cognition |
| spelling | doaj-art-00c5a6c6fcc8437cb0fc9c622cc539be2025-01-26T12:44:15ZengSpringerAnimal Cognition1435-94562024-03-0127111510.1007/s10071-024-01840-2How do animals weigh conflicting information about reward sources over time? Comparing dynamic averaging modelsJack Van Allsburg0Timothy A. Shahan1Department of Psychology, Utah State UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Utah State UniversityAbstract Optimal foraging theory suggests that animals make decisions which maximize their food intake per unit time when foraging, but the mechanisms animals use to track the value of behavioral alternatives and choose between them remain unclear. Several models for how animals integrate past experience have been suggested. However, these models make differential predictions for the occurrence of spontaneous recovery of choice: a behavioral phenomenon in which a hiatus from the experimental environment results in animals reverting to a behavioral allocation consistent with a reward distribution from the more distant past, rather than one consistent with their most recently experienced distribution. To explore this phenomenon and compare these models, three free-operant experiments with rats were conducted using a serial reversal design. In Phase 1, two responses (A and B) were baited with pellets on concurrent variable interval schedules, favoring option A. In Phase 2, lever baiting was reversed to favor option B. Rats then entered a delay period, where they were maintained at weight in their home cages and no experimental sessions took place. Following this delay, preference was assessed using initial responding in test sessions where levers were presented, but not baited. Models were compared in performance, including an exponentially weighted moving average, the Temporal Weighting Rule, and variants of these models. While the data provided strong evidence of spontaneous recovery of choice, the form and extent of recovery was inconsistent with the models under investigation. Potential interpretations are discussed in relation to both the decision rule and valuation functions employed.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01840-2Dynamic averagingSpontaneous recoveryChoiceTemporal weighting ruleConcurrent schedules |
| spellingShingle | Jack Van Allsburg Timothy A. Shahan How do animals weigh conflicting information about reward sources over time? Comparing dynamic averaging models Animal Cognition Dynamic averaging Spontaneous recovery Choice Temporal weighting rule Concurrent schedules |
| title | How do animals weigh conflicting information about reward sources over time? Comparing dynamic averaging models |
| title_full | How do animals weigh conflicting information about reward sources over time? Comparing dynamic averaging models |
| title_fullStr | How do animals weigh conflicting information about reward sources over time? Comparing dynamic averaging models |
| title_full_unstemmed | How do animals weigh conflicting information about reward sources over time? Comparing dynamic averaging models |
| title_short | How do animals weigh conflicting information about reward sources over time? Comparing dynamic averaging models |
| title_sort | how do animals weigh conflicting information about reward sources over time comparing dynamic averaging models |
| topic | Dynamic averaging Spontaneous recovery Choice Temporal weighting rule Concurrent schedules |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01840-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jackvanallsburg howdoanimalsweighconflictinginformationaboutrewardsourcesovertimecomparingdynamicaveragingmodels AT timothyashahan howdoanimalsweighconflictinginformationaboutrewardsourcesovertimecomparingdynamicaveragingmodels |