Modification of Internal Discriminative Stimulus Control of Behavior by Low Levels of Pulsed Microwave Radiation.
Abstract
The behavioral effects of pulsed microwave radiation were determined on rats performing on a reinforcement schedule regulated by internal stimulus control. The reinforcement schedule required that at least 8 consecutive responses be made on one response lever before a response on a 2nd lever would be reinforced with food. If the animal switched to the 2nd lever before the count of eight, the sequence of 8 responses had to be restarted. Baseline performances over a 6-month period indicated the existence of a discrimination of the number of responses counted on the 1st lever, as switching responses occurred with the largest frequency following 8 or more responses. Exposure to a pulsed 2.45 GHz radiation source for 30 minutes with power densities of 5, 10, or 15 mW/sq cm produced changes in the performance on the fixed consecutive-number schedule. All power densities led to increased frequency of premature switching, with the highest power producing the most disruption of the counting discrimination. Premature switching responses due to radiation exposures were associated with pronounced reductions in the percentage of correctly performed response runs that produced reinforcements. Microwave radiation had no effects on overall or running response rates or on response variability. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA044043
Entities
People
- Jomin Thomas
- L. S. Burch
- S. S. Yeandle
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center