Glossary / Lexicon

Autoshaping refer to responses that are learned in experimental situations even though they are not necessary to obtain reinforcement. Autoshaped behaviors, like pecking in pigeons usually appear to be part of the organism’s repertoire of "natural” behaviors. A type of sign tracking in which a pigeon comes to automatically peck at a response key because the key light has been associated with the response-independent delivery of food is an example of Autoshaping.