Development and Control of Licking Behavior in the Guinea Pig (\u3cem\u3eCavia porcellus\u3c/em\u3e)

Four non-licking guinea pigs were reinforced with water for successive approximations to licking an operandum feeder. Once all subjects had obtained their total liquid intake for a three-week period by licking, an optimum deprivation schedule was determined. Fixed ratio and variable interval schedules were found to affect licking behavior of the guinea pig in a similar way as with the rat, mean lick rate of guinea pigs being slightly lower than that of the rat. Precise control over the onset and offset of licking was demonstrated through discrimination training