CyberRat
Description
For this assignment i will be supplying the worksheets its not a traditional paper. The worksheet is based off this site http://www.ai2inc.com/index.html i have purchased this program but if theres a way to still complete the worksheets that would be great. The program is downloaded onto my computer already. Im not sure if this can be done but i hope its possible:) The worksheets are self explanatory. theres three worksheets in total
1
CyberRat
Exercise 1
PRE-REQUISITE READING
CyberRat User’s Guide Chapters 1-5
OBJECTIVES:
• To become familiar with the CyberRat program.
• To gain experience with behavioral measurement
• To collect baseline data on lever pressing prior to shaping
NOTE: This lab can be completed in about 30 minutes.
PRE-REQUISITE READING
CyberRat User’s Guide Chapters 1-5
Text and lecture on response measurement
MATERIALS
Data Sheets : Use the attached forms to describe your rat’s behavior (Observation Notes), to
develop definitions for selected behaviors, and to record frequency data on the selected
behaviors.
2
INSTRUCTIONS :
( 1) LAUNCH THE PROGRAM
(2) SELECT A RAT FROM THE COLONY THAT HAS RECEIVED WATER MAGAZINE
TRAINING. If there is not a rat in the colony with this experience, click on the plus sign in the
bottom left part of the screen, check the “water magazine trained” box, name your rat and click
“Add to colony.” Select this rat for a session.
(3) SET EXPERIMENTAL PARAMETERS. Go to “Settings” at the top of your screen. Select
“Extinction” under Reinforcement Rules. In the “Session Control” check the box that says “Real
Time Simulation with Video On” and “Allow Manual Termination of Session.” Under session
duration, enter 30 minutes.
(4) CONDUCT EXPERIMENT: Start the experiment (select “Experiment” at the top of your
screen) and watch your rat for 3 minutes. (A timer will appear on your screen.) During each
minute, use narrative recording to describe what your rat does on the “Observation Notes”
form. Simply describe the behaviors that you see the rat doing.
(5) SELECT AND DEFINE BEHAVIORS: While the program continues, review your
observation notes and select four different responses to define and measure. These behaviors
should be discrete and easy to count. Consider responses that you are likely to reinforce when
you begin to shape lever presses (i.e., close approximations) in Lab #2. One of the behaviors will
be a lever press (designated as Behavior #1 on the attached form). Other possible behaviors
include putting head in the hopper, scratching, sniffing the lever, rearing on the back wall,
rearing on the left wall, rearing near the lever, etc. Label each behavior and write a good
definition for each (Behaviors #2-#5 on the sheet). You will also need to write a definition for
lever press. You may need to continue to observe your rat while you are writing your
definitions.
(6) COLLECT DATA ON HIS BEHAVIOR FOR 10 MINUTES
You will be using the data collection sheet to record the frequency of each behavior during each
1-minute interval. Keep track of the 1-minute intervals by watching the timer that appears on
your screen. Before you begin, write each behavior at the top of the each column. Lever Press
already appears in the far left column. Make a slash mark in the appropriate column and row
every time your rat engages in the designated behavior. Make a slash mark for every instance of
a behavior. Move down a row for each minute until you have collected data for 10 minutes.
3
(7) SUMMARIZE YOUR DATA: Complete the observation summary at the bottom of the data
sheet.
(8) SUBMIT YOUR ASSIGNMENT: To submit this completed assignment, click on the link at
the top of this page that says, “CyberRat Exercise 1” next to the symbol with the paper, pencil
and ruler. This will take you to a new window where you can upload your document and then
submit!
1
CyberRat
Exercise 2
OBJECTIVES :
• To establish a lever press response using shaping (differential reinforcement of
successive approximations).
• To examine response acquisition and maintenance across multiple reinforcement
sessions.
NOTE: The duration of this lab will depend on your skills as a shaper! If you don’t want to
complete the entire lab in a single session, you can terminate the session and resume again
later. You can then pick up the shaping where you left off. You may need to do this if your rat
has received a lot of reinforcement and is becoming satiated. If your rat stops consuming the
reinforcer when you deliver it, end the session and begin a fresh one with him.
PRE-REQUISITE READING
• Cyber Rat User’s Guide
• Text and lectures on cumulative records and shaping
• CyberRat tutorial appendix material (pp. 1-8)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Part 1: Shaping
(1) RE-EXAMINE THE DATA COLLECTED IN LAB #1 : Identify your initial approximation
(and/or possible subsequent approximations) for shaping the lever press.
(2) SELECT YOUR RAT FOR A SESSION : This should be the rat that participated in Lab #1.
If you no longer have your rat, select another rat from the colony that has received water
magazine training.
2
(3) SET EXPERIMENTAL PARAMETERS. Select “Manual Reinf / Bar On” under
Reinforcement Rules. “Real-Time Simulation with Video On” and “Allow Manual Termination
of Session” should be checked. Under session duration, enter 60 minutes.
(3) CONDUCT SHAPING EXPERIMENT: To be a successful shaper, you must observe
carefully and BE PATIENT! The idea is to pick a behavior that your rat performs frequently and
that is similar in some way to the lever press, such as turning his head towards the lever, rearing
up near the lever, or sniffing the lever. Reinforcing this first approximation of the behavior will
cause the rat to perform that behavior more frequently. As the rat does that behavior, there will
be some variability in form. Gradually start reinforcing those variations that come closer and
closer to the final behavior, and gradually stop reinforcing those that are farther away. Click the
green “manual reinf” button on the bottom right of the screen to deliver each reinforcer. The
reinforcer must be delivered immediately, otherwise you may reinforce a different behavior. This
involves close observation and almost anticipation from the shaper. If the rat presses the lever
on his own, the reinforcer will drop automatically. Wait to see if your rat will press the lever
again; if not, continue to reinforce the current approximation or move to an even closer
approximation. Then, wait to see if your Rat will press the lever on his own. Continue the session
until your rat has pressed the lever at least 5 times. End the session and save your file. Enter
“shaping completed” in your notes.
(4) CONDUCT FOUR REINFORCEMENT SESSIONS TO ESTABLISH A
REINFORCEMENT HISTORY. In “Settings” select “CRF (continuous reinforcement) under
Reinforcement Rules. In “Session Control” check ” Fast Simulation” (no video) and uncheck
“Allow Manual Termination of Session.” Under session duration, set the duration to 60 minutes.
Leave the rest blank. Run the session (it should take less than a minute to finish in fast
mode). When it ends, save your file and click “start experiment” again to immediately run
another 60 min session. You do not need to change any of the parameters in between the
sessions. Simply click “start experiment” again for a new session. Run two more sessions, for a
total of four sessions. When the fourth session ends, save your file. Enter any notes or problem
reports and check ” assignment completed.”
(5) SELECT GRAPH AND ANALYZE: Read the instructions for Graphing Experimental
Results (Cyber Rat User’s Manual – Chapter 6). First, graph the final session of shaping (which
terminated with approximately 5 lever presses). Under graphing, select ” Add graph to multiple
list.” In order to have this option you must go to “Graphing preferences” and select “without pen
resets.” Then, graph the next session that you conducted (the first one in fast mode). Add to the
set. Then, graph the remaining 3 sessions that you conducted in fast mode, adding each to the set,
until you have a total of 5 sessions. Graph the multiple list. You should have 5 cumulative
records in one graph. Please make sure to “Create a graph snapshot” and include this on your
worksheet in addition to answering the questions on the worksheet.
PART 2: EXTINCTION
INSTRUCTIONS:
3
(1) GRAPH AND REPLAY LAST REINFORCEMENT SESSION FROM PART 1 WHILE
COLLECTING FREQUENCY DATA . Before you expose your rat’s lever press to extinction,
you will collect baseline data on his behavior. (This must be the rat that participated in Part
1. If you no longer have your rat, return to the colony room; select a new rat that has been bar
press-shaped and then conduct two reinforcement sessions as described in Part 1 to establish a
reinforcement history for this rat.) Review the instructions for selecting a data set to graph.
Graph the last reinforcement (CRF) session. On the horizontal axis of the graph, place the cursor
at the point in the session where responding began; press the shift key and click on the graph to
start the video. You will use frequency recording to collect data on your rat’s lever pressing
during 1-minute intervals for 10 minutes. Using the data table below, make a slash mark in the
column every time your rat presses the lever. Watch the on-screen clock to keep track of the 1-
minute intervals.
Baseline (Reinforcement)
Minutes Lever Presses
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
(2) EXPOSE YOUR RAT’S LEVER PRESS TO EXTINCTION WHILE COLLECTING
DATA: Return to the colony room, and select your rat for a session. Set Experimental
Parameters. Under Reinforcement Rules, select “Extinction.” “Real-time Simulation with Video
On” should be checked. Under session duration, set the duration to 10 minutes. Conduct
Experiment and continue collecting frequency data on your rat’s lever pressing during 1-minute
4
intervals. Using the data table below, make a slash mark in the column every time your rat
presses the lever. Watch the on-screen clock to keep track of the 1-minute intervals. Save your
file.
Extinction
Minutes Lever Presses
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
(3) EXTINGUISH LEVER PRESSING. Select Experimental Parameters. Keep “Extinction”
under Reinforcement Rules. Check “Fast Simulation with video off.” Under session duration, set
the duration to 10 minutes. Leave the rest blank. Run the session (it should take less than a
minute to finish in fast mode). When it ends, save your file and select “Experiment” again to
immediately run another 10-min session. You do not need to change any of the parameters in
between the sessions. Simply click “Experiment” again for a new session. Continue to save your
files and expose your rat to extinction until he makes two or less responses during a 10-minute
session. When you save the final session, enter any notes or problem reports and check
“assignment completed.”
(4) SELECT GRAPH AND ANALYZE: Read the instructions for Graphing Experimental
Results (Cyber Rat User’s Manual – Chapter 6). First, graph the first session of extinction. Under
graphing, select “Add graph to multiple list.” In order to have this option you must go to
“Graphing preferences” and select “without pen resets.” Then, graph the next session that you
5
conducted (the first one in fast mode). Add to the set. Then, graph the remaining sessions that
you conducted in fast mode, adding each to the set. Graph the multiple list. Please make sure to
“Create a graph snapshot” and include this on your worksheet in addition to answering the
questions on the worksheet.