operandum

Noun. A lever, key or device installed in a operant chamber, upon which the "subject" exerts its responses. Sometimes referred to as a manipulandum. In the prototypical operant conditioning experiment, a rat (the subject) presses upon a lever (the operandum) which triggers the delivery of food (the reward or reinforcer).

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.