“More is better”: Training multiple alternatives reduces resurgence

Resurgence is the recurrence of previously extinguished behavior due to the worsening of current alternative conditions (Lattal et al., 2017). While some studies have suggested that expanded-operant treatments might reduce resurgence, inconsistent findings warrant further investigation. Mixed results could be explained by attending to the type of training, the similarities of response topography, or the rate of alternative reinforcement. We aimed to explore the effect of different trainings of multiple alternative responses on resurgence when all responses had a different topography. Following reinforcement of the target response (i.e., chain-pull), four groups of rats were exposed to different training procedures. For Single group, only one alternative behavior was reinforced (i.e., lever-press). For the Between-Conditions group, two alternative behaviors (i.e., lever-press and key-push) were reinforced, each one across separate conditions. For the Within-Session groups, two alternating alternative responses were reinforced each session with a rich or lean programmed rate of reinforcement. Once alternative reinforcement was removed, the Single group exhibited resurgence, while neither expanded-operant treatments groups showed resurgence. The results shed light on the effects of expanded-operant treatments as an approach to modulate resurgence. These findings might have implications in clinical settings for the design of successful behavioral interventions for the promotion of durable outcomes despite treatment challenges.