F. Charles Mace

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior Increases Resistance to Extinction: Clinical Demonstration, Animal Modeling, and Clinical Test of One Solution

Basic research with pigeons on behavioral momentum suggests that differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) can increase the resistance of target behavior to change. This finding suggests that clinical applications of DRA may inadvertently increase the persistence of target behavior even as it decreases its frequency. We conducted three coordinated experiments to test whether DRA has persistence-strengthening effects on clinically significant target behavior and then tested the effectiveness of a possible solution to this problem in both a nonhuman and clinical study. Experiment 1 compared resistance to extinction following baseline rates of reinforcement versus higher DRA rates of reinforcement in a clinical study. Resistance to extinction was substantially greater following DRA. Experiment 2 tested a rat model of a possible solution to this problem. Training an alternative response in a context without reinforcement of the target response circumvented the persistence-strengthening effects of DRA. Experiment 3 translated the rat model into a novel clinical application of DRA. Training an alternative response with DRA in a separate context resulted in lower resistance to extinction than employing DRA in the context correlated with reinforcement of target behavior. The value of coordinated bidirectional translational research is discussed.

Treatment relapse and behavioral momentum theory.

The relapse of problem behavior after apparently successful treatment is an enduring problem for the field of applied behavior analysis. Several theoretical accounts of treatment relapse have emerged over the years. However, one account that has received considerable recent attention is based on behavioral momentum theory (BMT). BMT has shown that behavior is more persistent in contexts that are correlated with higher rates of reinforcers after disruption of the response-reinforcer relation. Accordingly, relapse after successful treatment can be viewed as the persistence of behavior when treatment is compromised in some manner. We review basic BMT research, alternative accounts of treatment relapse, and translational research studies derived from BMT research. The implications for applied behavior analysis in practice are discussed along with potential solutions to the problem of treatment relapse.

Clinical translation of animal models of treatment relapse

Behavioral Momentum Theory (BMT) has inspired animal models of treatment relapse. We translated the models of reinstatement and resurgence into clinical procedures to test whether relapse tests would replicate behavior pattern found in basic research. Following multiple schedule baseline reinforcement of a 16-year-old males problem behavior at equal rates by two therapists, treatment was introduced using a variable-interval, variable-time (VI VT) schedule arrangement with therapists delivering reinforcers at different rates. Despite the differing rates of VI VT reinforcers, the treatment produced comparable reductions in problem behavior. Following successful treatment, the two therapists discontinued treatment and resumed reinforcement of problem behavior at equal rates that constituted a reinstatement of baseline conditions. As predicted by BMT, reinstatement resulted in an immediate return of high rates of problem behavior but was 2.6 times higher for the therapist using the higher rate VI VT treatment. A second treatment phase was implemented followed by a test of resurgence in a single extended extinction session conducted separately for each therapist. The unequal VI VT treatment rates by therapists resulted in 2.1 times greater responding in the resurgence test for the therapist who implemented the higher rate VI VT procedure. These results are consistent with basic research studies and BMT.

Effects of signaled and unsignaled alternative reinforcement on persistence and relapse in children and pigeons.

Three experiments explored the impact of different reinforcer rates for alternative behavior (DRA) on the suppression and post-DRA relapse of target behavior, and the persistence of alternative behavior. All experiments arranged baseline, intervention with extinction of target behavior concurrently with DRA, and post-treatment tests of resurgence or reinstatement, in two- or three-component multiple schedules. Experiment 1, with pigeons, arranged high or low baseline reinforcer rates; both rich and lean DRA schedules reduced target behavior to low levels. When DRA was discontinued, the magnitude of relapse depended on both baseline reinforcer rate and the rate of DRA. Experiment 2, with children exhibiting problem behaviors, arranged an intermediate baseline reinforcer rate and rich or lean signaled DRA. During treatment, both rich and lean DRA rapidly reduced problem behavior to low levels, but post-treatment relapse was generally greater in the DRA-rich than the DRA-lean component. Experiment 3, with pigeons, repeated the low-baseline condition of Experiment 1 with signaled DRA as in Experiment 2. Target behavior decreased to intermediate levels in both DRA-rich and DRA-lean components. Relapse, when it occurred, was directly related to DRA reinforcer rate as in Experiment 2. The post-treatment persistence of alternative behavior was greater in the DRA-rich component in Experiment 1, whereas it was the same or greater in the signaled-DRA-lean component in Experiments 2 and 3. Thus, infrequent signaled DRA may be optimal for effective clinical treatment.

The Persistence-Strengthening Effects of DRA: An Illustration of Bidirectional Translational Research.

We summarize a series of bidirectional research studies that demonstrate the persistence-strengthening effects of differential reinforcement of alternative behavior on problem behavior. We model a possible solution to this problem with rats followed by replication with a human clinical population. The importance of coordinated basic and applied research to stimulate new behavioral technologies is emphasized.

Effects of stimulant medication under varied motivational operations.

We evaluated the evocative effects of four conditions (high- and low-preference activities, low and divided attention) and stimulant medication on the behavior of a 16-year-old boy with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and moderate mental retardation. All behavior (activity engagement, activity changes, inappropriate touching, rude behaviors, and physical aggression) improved with stimulant medication in most conditions, but undesirable behaviors were not reduced to acceptable levels in all conditions. This finding suggests that stimulant medication may be a valuable adjunct to function-based interventions.

Clinical translation of the ABA renewal model of treatment relapse

ABSTRACT An 18-year-old male’s attention-maintained problem behavior was treated with an alternative (ALT) variable-interval, variable-time (VI VT) schedule arrangement with two therapists each delivering attention at different rates in a multiple schedule of reinforcement. Despite the differing rates of VI VT attention, the procedures resulted in similar rates of problem behavior in the last three treatment sessions reducing problem behavior by an average of 45%. Following treatment, the two therapists conducted separate extinction sessions, initially in a different context until problem behavior extinguished and then returning to the original treatment context (i.e., the ABA renewal test). Extinction took 4.4 times longer in the renewal test for the therapist who implemented the high-rate VI VT treatment compared with the therapist who implemented the low-rate VI VT treatment. Although these results are preliminary, the implications for clinicians is that treatment designs that use low-rate treatment may be more effective than high-rate treatment in preventing relapse.

A Methodology for Maintaining Low Levels of Attention-Maintained Problem Behaviors Following Variable-Time Schedule Thinning

Variable-time (VT) schedules of reinforcement deliver reinforcers contingent on the passage of a specified average amount of time. VT schedules that arrange for frequent reinforcer deliveries have been effective in producing immediate suppression of elevated levels of target behaviors. However, dense schedules may not be practical for caregivers and staff and a systematic methodology for thinning VT schedules is needed. This study employed VT schedules of attention to reduce attention-maintained problem behavior in a 14-year-old male. Following reduction in attention-maintained problem behaviors, the VT schedule was thinned. Results showed that a return to continuous attention following re-emergence of behaviors during schedule thinning resulted in maintenance of low levels of these behaviors and high levels of activity engagement.

An Evaluation of Three Methods of Denying Access to Computers to a Person With Learning Disabilities

Parents and carers frequently report that individuals with learning disabilities who demand access to preferred activities present challenging behavior when they are denied access to these activities. The present research systematically replicated a pilot study by Mace, Pratt, Prager and Pritchard (in press) demonstrating that an escalating response class hierarchy of challenging behaviors could be reliably avoided if a child’s demands for access to a computer game were denied by either: (a) denying the child access to the computer game while at the same time offering an alternative activity; or (b) denying the child access to the computer game until the child had completed an academic task. The current study extended the pilot research by demonstrating the effectiveness of the two interventions with a 17 year-old male of large stature who engaged in dangerous challenging behavior when his demands for access to computers were denied.

Multi-component behavioural intervention reduces harmful sexual behaviour in a 17-year-old male with autism spectrum disorder: a case study

ABSTRACT This case study describes the treatment of problem behaviour presented by a 17-year-old male with autism spectrum disorder. Persistent and serious problem behaviour (i.e. harmful sexual behaviour, aggression and absconding) led to the young person being detained in secure accommodation on four separate occasions prior to his current placement. This study describes how a multi-component behavioural intervention lasting 115 weeks was associated with the reduction of problem behaviour and the successful reintegration of the young person into mainstream education.