Liberate Laboratory Animals

The message is:
Let animals go to, and away from, places in the lab setting;
it is not necessary to hold them in only one location any more.
Let there be normal and healthy mobility in 'free-operant' conditioning.


In other words: let cumulative records reflect biological 'taxis' - the organism in motion -
as well as the rate and patterns of body-part movements in relation to variables, such as
reinforcement schedules and conditioned stimuli, eg. tones the subjects can understand.

At the moment, scientists may not wish to extend the wonder of B.F. Skinner's cumulative
records - yet one thing is certain: allowing an animal free movement in the lab, will render
'punishment' with something aversive such as actual or threatened contact with electricity,
into a mission impossible: the animals would not cooperate.

Instead of intimidation, researchers would have to find other possibilities to halt on-going
behavior and show subjects how, when and where to obtain what they need for their own
welfare; like grain, water. suitable lighting and temperature.

Such a science could answer questions on punishment, debated throughout human history.
Must people be frightened - time and again - to get them to refrain or behave in some way?  More trustworthy information is urgently needed, now.  As yet, no one has all the answers,
not behavior analysts, nor psychiatrists, nor psychoanalysts.

What we do know though, is where not to look for an answer:
not in a brain or the nerves nor anywhere else inside the body.

Surely, the whole world would profit from science with collaboration among brain specialists
and behavior analysts, showing external stimulation and reinforcing contingencies can affect
individual performance and organic functioning for the better.

It may sound radical to say so, today, yet brains are not people who feel, think and recognize.
I foresee global consensus on this within less than a century! Personally, I am happy to make
men, women and children, the subjects of grammatical sentences and the centre of attention.

June 27, 2012