
Spontaneous Alternation Behavior
Springer (Publisher)
Published on 25. October 1989
Book
Hardback
XI, 211 pages
978-0-387-96963-3 (ISBN)
Description
A wide variety of species, including human beings, exhibits a remarkably reliable behavior pattern, known as spontaneous alternation behavior (SAB), that has intrigued researchers for over seven decades. Though the details may vary depending on species and setting, SAB essentially entails first choosing one member of a pair of alternatives and then the other, without instructions or incen tives to do so. Spontaneous alternation is manifested even in the early trials of a discrimination-learning experiment, where only one of the choices is reinforced. Indeed, that was the setting in which SAB was first noted (Hunter, 1914). Rein forcement contingencies, evidently, are superimposed, not on a random sequence of choices, but on a potent, systematic behavior pattern. This book is the first to be devoted entirely to SAB and closely related phenomena, such as habituation and exploration. The literature on SAB is vast, covering a host of questions ranging from the cues that guide alternation to its phylogenetic and ontogenetic generality, its relation to learning and motivation, and its neurochemical substrates. In separate chapters we take up each of the major issues, reviewing what is known about the several facets of SAB and revealing areas of ignorance. The chapter authors were encouraged to discuss their own research where pertinent, some of it as yet unpublished, indeed some conducted specifically for this volume.
More details
Edition
1989
Language
English
Place of publication
NY
United States
Target group
Research
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
Bibliography
Dimensions
Height: 0 mm
Width: 0 mm
Weight
550 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-387-96963-3 (9780387969633)
DOI
10.1007/978-1-4613-8879-1
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

William N. Dember | Charles L. Richman
Spontaneous Alternation Behavior
Book
10/2011
Springer
€53.49
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Content
1: Historical Overview.- 2: The Search for Cues and Motives.- 3: Phylogenetic Comparisons.- 4: SAB, Reward, and Learning.- 5: Spontaneous Alternation Behavior and the Brain.- 6: Neurochemical and Neuroanatomical Correlates of Behavioral Habituation and Sensitization: An Overview and Elaboration of Animal Experimentation.- 7: Ontogeny of Spontaneous Alternation Behavior.- 8: Using SAB as a Tool: Advice from a Veteran.- References.- Author Index.