Response to Westlund's commentary: 'Can conditioned reinforcers and variable-Ratio Schedules make food- and fluid control redundant?'

Mark J. Prescott; Verity J. Brown; Paul A. Flecknell; Kate Garrod; Roger N. Lemon; Andrew J. Parker; Kathy Ryder; Wolfram Schultz; Leah Scott; Jayne Watson; Lucy Whitfield

doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.08.038

Response to Westlund's commentary: 'Can conditioned reinforcers and variable-Ratio Schedules make food- and fluid control redundant?'

Mark J. Prescott^*, Verity J. Brown, Paul A. Flecknell, Kate Garrod, Roger N. Lemon, Andrew J. Parker, Kathy Ryder, Wolfram Schultz, Leah Scott, Jayne Watson, Lucy Whitfield

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Psychology and Neuroscience

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

Abstract

In this short communication, we respond to Westlund's critique of the NC3Rs Working Group report on refinement of the use of food and fluid control as motivational tools for macaques used in behavioural neuroscience research. The suggestions Westlund makes - in particular, the use of conditioned reinforcers and variable ratio schedules - were considered by the Working Group but were not included in the report as specific recommendations. We outline the reasons for this and also address some misunderstandings of our position.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	206-209
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Volume	204
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.08.038
Publication status	Published - 15 Feb 2012

Keywords

Animal welfare
Conditioned reinforcer
Fluid control
Food control
Macaque
Motivation
Reinforcement
Variable ratio schedule

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10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.08.038

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Prescott, M. J., Brown, V. J., Flecknell, P. A., Garrod, K., Lemon, R. N., Parker, A. J., Ryder, K., Schultz, W., Scott, L., Watson, J., & Whitfield, L. (2012). Response to Westlund's commentary: 'Can conditioned reinforcers and variable-Ratio Schedules make food- and fluid control redundant?'. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 204(1), 206-209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.08.038

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abstract = "In this short communication, we respond to Westlund's critique of the NC3Rs Working Group report on refinement of the use of food and fluid control as motivational tools for macaques used in behavioural neuroscience research. The suggestions Westlund makes - in particular, the use of conditioned reinforcers and variable ratio schedules - were considered by the Working Group but were not included in the report as specific recommendations. We outline the reasons for this and also address some misunderstandings of our position.",

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author = "Prescott, {Mark J.} and Brown, {Verity J.} and Flecknell, {Paul A.} and Kate Garrod and Lemon, {Roger N.} and Parker, {Andrew J.} and Kathy Ryder and Wolfram Schultz and Leah Scott and Jayne Watson and Lucy Whitfield",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.08.038",

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Prescott, MJ, Brown, VJ, Flecknell, PA, Garrod, K, Lemon, RN, Parker, AJ, Ryder, K, Schultz, W, Scott, L, Watson, J & Whitfield, L 2012, 'Response to Westlund's commentary: 'Can conditioned reinforcers and variable-Ratio Schedules make food- and fluid control redundant?'', Journal of Neuroscience Methods, vol. 204, no. 1, pp. 206-209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.08.038

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T1 - Response to Westlund's commentary

T2 - 'Can conditioned reinforcers and variable-Ratio Schedules make food- and fluid control redundant?'

AU - Prescott, Mark J.

AU - Brown, Verity J.

AU - Flecknell, Paul A.

AU - Garrod, Kate

AU - Lemon, Roger N.

AU - Parker, Andrew J.

AU - Ryder, Kathy

AU - Schultz, Wolfram

AU - Scott, Leah

AU - Watson, Jayne

AU - Whitfield, Lucy

PY - 2012/2/15

Y1 - 2012/2/15

N2 - In this short communication, we respond to Westlund's critique of the NC3Rs Working Group report on refinement of the use of food and fluid control as motivational tools for macaques used in behavioural neuroscience research. The suggestions Westlund makes - in particular, the use of conditioned reinforcers and variable ratio schedules - were considered by the Working Group but were not included in the report as specific recommendations. We outline the reasons for this and also address some misunderstandings of our position.

AB - In this short communication, we respond to Westlund's critique of the NC3Rs Working Group report on refinement of the use of food and fluid control as motivational tools for macaques used in behavioural neuroscience research. The suggestions Westlund makes - in particular, the use of conditioned reinforcers and variable ratio schedules - were considered by the Working Group but were not included in the report as specific recommendations. We outline the reasons for this and also address some misunderstandings of our position.

KW - Animal welfare

KW - Conditioned reinforcer

KW - Fluid control

KW - Food control

KW - Macaque

KW - Motivation

KW - Reinforcement

KW - Variable ratio schedule

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DO - 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.08.038

M3 - Comment/debate

AN - SCOPUS:84855189523

SN - 0165-0270

VL - 204

SP - 206

EP - 209

JO - Journal of Neuroscience Methods

JF - Journal of Neuroscience Methods

IS - 1

ER -

Response to Westlund's commentary: 'Can conditioned reinforcers and variable-Ratio Schedules make food- and fluid control redundant?'

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Keywords

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