VALIDACIÓN DE UN PROCEDIMIENTO ECONÓMICO PARA ESTUDIAR EL CONDICIONAMIENTO OPERANTE.

This paper presents a series of four experiments, designed to empirically validate a forced swimming preparation, as an experimental technique, that may allow demonstrating and studying operant conditioning phenomena. The basic procedure consisted of exposing mice, to a swimming situation where escape was possible, if the experimental subject swam in a predetermined zone of the setting. In general, results showed that immediate escapes sustained higher response rates than delayed ones. Additionally, high ratio schedules showed more evidence of ratio-strain than low ratio schedules. Data also showed low response rates during extinction procedures, and comparatively higher rates during FR 3 schedules. Lastly, results showed that continued exposure to the swimming situation decreases the activity of the subject in the experimental situation. In summary, results showed that it is possible to replicate prototypical operant findings, using the forced swimming preparation with rescues. Results also showed that traditional interpretations of rodent behavior, occurring during forced swimming situations, should be reconsidered.