Skinner box at UCSF

Definition

An animal cage that is used in the study of both operant conditioning and classical conditioning. The structure forming the shell of a chamber is a box large enough to easily accommodate the organism being used as a subject. It is often sound-proof and light-proof to avoid distracting stimuli. Operant chambers have at least one operandum (or "manipulandum"), and often two or more, that can automatically detect the occurrence of a behavioral response or action.

Synonyms

Operant conditioning chamber

Categories

Instrument → Animal cage → Skinner box