EXPLORING AND DEVELOPING A CONNECTIONIST MODEL OF ANIMAL TIMING - PEAK PROCEDURE AND FIXED-INTERVAL SIMULATIONS

The researchers examined the performance of a version of R. M. Church and H. Broadbent's (1990, 1992) oscillator-based connectionist model of animal timing. The model simulated a peak procedure task and showed appropriate within-trial behavior and superposition. Exploration of the model included (a) transitions from 1 reinforcement time to another, (b) changes in the threshold for response generation, and (c) changes in the oscillator set used to represent time. Performance under fixed-interval (FI) reinforcement schedules could be simulated by adding a variety of response-generating rules to the model. The connectionist model appropriately simulated averaged response rate vs. elapsed time functions on most FI schedules; it could also mimic cumulative records. The researchers concluded that the connectionist model formed a good basis for further development as a general model of temporal regulation of behavior in animals.