MacDonall James S, Goodell Jon, Juliano Anthony
Department of Psychology, Fordham University, 441 E. Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458, USA.
Behav Processes. 2006 Jun 1;72(3):283-99. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2006.03.005. Epub 2006 Mar 7.
Optimal foraging theory proposes that animals obtain the highest rate of reinforcers for the least effort and momentary maximizing theory proposes that animals make the response that at that instant is most likely to be reinforced. While each theory may account for matching on concurrent schedules, the data supporting each theory are weak. Two experiments assessed these theories by considering concurrent choice as consisting of two pairs of stay and switch schedules. Symmetrical arrangements, which are equivalent to standard concurrent schedules, maintained behavior described by the generalized matching law. Weighted arrangements, in which the programmed rate of earning reinforcers was always greater at one alternative, maintained behavior that was biased towards the weighted alternative, yet the bias was less than that predicted by optimal foraging theory. Asymmetrical arrangements, in which the stay and switch schedules operating at an alternative are the same, maintained behavior that favored one alternative, even though momentary maximizing predicted indifference. The generalized matching law poorly described each rat's pooled data from all conditions but these data were described by an equation based on the stay and switch reinforcers earned per-visit and included elements of optimal foraging and momentary maximizing theories of choice.
最优觅食理论提出，动物以最小的努力获得最高的强化物获取率，而瞬间最大化理论提出，动物做出在那一刻最有可能得到强化的反应。虽然每种理论都可能解释在并发程序上的匹配行为，但支持每种理论的数据都很薄弱。两项实验通过将并发选择视为由两对停留和转换程序组成来评估这些理论。与标准并发程序等效的对称安排维持了由广义匹配定律描述的行为。加权安排中，在一种选择上获得强化物的设定速率总是更高，维持了偏向加权选择的行为，然而这种偏向小于最优觅食理论所预测的。不对称安排中，在一种选择上运行的停留和转换程序相同，维持了偏向一种选择的行为，尽管瞬间最大化预测的是无差异。广义匹配定律很难描述每只大鼠在所有条件下的汇总数据，但这些数据可以用一个基于每次访问获得的停留和转换强化物的方程来描述，该方程包含了最优觅食和瞬间最大化选择理论的元素。
