Operant conditioning in the bat Phyllostomus hastatus

J Exp Anal Behav. 1971 Sep;16(2):219-23. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1971.16-219.

Abstract

Bats of the species Phyllostomus hastatus were trained to press a pigeon key with food as the reinforcer. Patterns of responding under fixed-ratio, fixed-interval, and variable-interval schedules of reinforcement were similar to those typically shown by other species. In a simple auditory discrimination, responding readily came under stimulus control. It is suggested that the behavioral method could be applied to various problem areas of bat behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Auditory Perception
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Chiroptera*
  • Conditioning, Operant*
  • Discrimination Learning
  • Housing, Animal
  • Reinforcement Schedule*
  • Sound
  • Species Specificity