Carlos Aparicio


Professional Details

Title Professor
Department Psychology
Office Meier Hall 228
Phone 978.542.2507
Email carlos.aparicio@salemstate.edu
Resume Carlos Aparicio
Photo of Carlos Aparicio

Recent and Upcoming Courses

PSY 210 Introduction to Learning
PSY 421 Internship in Psychology
PSY 431 Research in Animal Learning
PSY 520 Internship in Psychology
PSY 600H Honors in Psychology
PSY 817 Experimental Analysis of Behavior
PSY 830 Small N Research Design & Analysis
PSY 875 Directed Study

Professional Biography

Dr. Aparicio completed his Ph.D. in (1992) at the University of New Hampshire in the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. Since then he has been serving as an associate and full professor at multiple universities including University of Mississippi (1992-95), University of Guadalajara (1998-2007), University of North Carolina Wilmington (2007-2009), George Mason University (2010), and Savannah State University (2010-13). In addition, he was the Head of Research at The Aurora School at the Arc of Loudoun. He came to Salem State as an associate professor in 2013 and in 2016 was promoted to full professor in the Department of Psychology, where he is responsible of the Laboratory for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior in nonhuman animals.

Professional Interests

For several years, I have been implementing current procedures in experimental analysis of behavior to assess the effects of dopamine agonists and dopamine antagonists on choice, impulsive behavior, self-control, temporal discrimination, and performance on progressive schedules of reinforcement. The use of mathematical models to fit the data and estimate the sensitivity of behavior to drug effects is the common denominator in all procedures implementing single-subject experimental designs, resulting in contributions to the experimental analysis of behavior.

Selected Publications

Aparicio, C. F., Hennigan, P. J., Mulligan, L. J., & Alonso-Álvarez, B. (2019). Spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats choose more impulsively than Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats on a delay discounting task. Behavioural Brain Research. 364, 480-493. Doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2017.09.040  

Belaqziz, S., Le Page, M., Aparicio, C. F., Kharrou, M. H., Khabba, S., El Fazziki, A., Hennigan, P., & Jarlan, L. (2016). Simulating negotiations over limited water resources: A multi-agent system approach for irrigation systems facilitates the Analysis of the Decision-making process. Conductual, 4(2), 116-135.

Aparicio, C. F., Baum, W., Hughes, E. C., & Pitts, R. C. (2016). Limits to preference and the sensitivity of choice to rate and amount of food. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 105, 322-337. Doi. 10.1002/jeab.198

Elcoro, M., Aparicio, C. F., Kelly, S. P., & Thompson, T. (2016). Behavioral inhibition in rats after 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the medial prefrontal cortex. Psychology and Neuroscience, 9(1), 125-138.

Aparicio, C. F. (2015). Comparing models of intertemporal choice: Fitting data from the Lewis and Fischer 344 rats. Conductual, 3(2), 82-110. Retrieved from: http:// conductual.com/content/comparing-models-intertemporal-choice-fitting-data-lewis-and-fischer-344 rats.

Aparicio, C. F., Elcoro, M., & Alonso-Alvarez, B. (2015). A long-term study of the impulsive choices of Lewis and Fischer 344 rats. Learning and Behavior, 43(3) 251-271. DOI 10.3758/s13420-015-0177-y

Aparicio, C. F., & Mario, C. J. (2014). Positive automaintenance in SHR and WKY rats: Faster acquisition of lever-pressing in the former strain suggests differences in impulsivity between strains.  Conductual, 2(3), 17-35.

Elcoro, M., Thompson, T., Kelly, S. P., Pegan, R., & Aparicio, C. F. (2014). 6-Hydroxydopamine lesions in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats exposed to a peak-interval procedure. Psychology and Neuroscience, 7(2), 233-241.

Jimenez, A. A., & Aparicio, C. F. (2014). Choice in transition, changeover ratio, and local preference. Psychological Record, 64, 31-40.

Aparicio, C. F., Hughes, C. E., & Pitts, R. C. (2013). Impulsive choice in Lewis and Fischer 344 rats: Effects of extended training. Conductual, 1(3), 22-46.

Aparicio, C. F. (2010). Effects of haloperidol on responding maintained with food and sucrose-water. Universitas Psychologica, 9(3), 635-655.

Jiménez, A. A., & Aparicio, C. F. (2009). Sensitivity, Changeover Responses, and Choice in Transition. Behavioural Processes 28(1), 1-6.

Aparicio, C. F., & Baum, W. M. (2009). Dynamics of choice: relative rate and amount affect local preference at three different time scales. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 91, 293-317.

Aparicio, C. F. (2008). Dynamics of choice and frequency of environment change. Behavioural Processes, 78(2), 165-172.

Balderrama, J. A., & Aparicio, C. F. (2008). Effects of Dopamine Agonists and Antagonists in Variable Reinforcing Environments. Universitas Psychologica, 7(2), 507-533.

Covarrubias, P., & Aparicio, C. F. (2008). Effects of reinforcer quality and step size on rats’ performance under progressive ratio schedules. Behavioural Processes, 78(2), 246-252.

Aparicio, C. F. (2007). Haloperidol, dynamics of choice, and the parameters of the matching law. Behavioural Processes, 75(2), 206-212.

Aparicio, C. F., & Baum, W. M. (2006). Fix and sample with rats in the dynamics of choice. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 86(1), 43-63.

Cabrera, F., & Aparicio, C. F. (2006). Travel, Sensitivity to Reinforcement, and Multiple Alternatives. Brazilian Journal of Behavior Analysis, 2(2), 1-14.

Aparicio, C. F., & Balderrama, J. A. (2004). Choice, dynamic reinforcement, and changeover response requirement. Universitas Psychologica, 3(2), 121-146.

Aparicio, C. F., Velasco, F. & Balderrama, J. (2004). Haloperidol, choice, and changeover response requirement. Suma Psicológica, 11 (2), 181-204.

Aparicio, C. F. (2003).  Effects of haloperidol in a variable reinforcement environment. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 29(2), 169-190. doi.10.5514/rmac.v29.i2.25402

Aparicio, C. F. (2003). Haloperidol affects choice and changes preference: The barrier choice paradigm. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 29(1), 31-61.

Aparicio, C. F., & Barajas, A. (2002). Dynamic changes in reinforcement contingencies of a choice situation: Steady state concurrent performance is required? Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 28(1), 67-90.

Aparicio, C. F. (2001). Overmatching in rodents: The barrier choice paradigm. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 75:1, 93-106.   

Aparicio, C. F., & Cabrera, F. (2001). Choice with multiple alternatives: The barrier choice paradigm. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 27, 97-118.

Aparicio, C. F. (1999). The barrier choice paradigm: Haloperidol reduces sensitivity to reinforcement.  Behavioural Processes, 48, 57-67.

Baum, W. M., & Aparicio, C. F. (1999). Optimality and concurrent variable-interval variable-ratio schedules. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 71: 75-89.

Aparicio, C. F., & Baum, W. M. (1997). Comparing locomotion with lever-press travel in an operant simulation of foraging. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 68: 177-192.

Selected Presentations

Aparicio, C. F. (2019). Models of Intertemporal Choice and the Matching Law Fitting Delay Discounting Data from Spontaneously Hypertensive (SHR) and Lewis (LEW) Rats. Symposium presented at the VII International Seminar on Behavior and Applications (SINCA), Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, November 13-15, 2019.

Aparicio, C. F., & Malonson, M. (2019). Impulsive Choice in Animal Models of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Paper presented at the VII International Seminar on Behavior and Applications (SINCA), Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, November 13-15, 2019.

Malonson, M., & Aparicio, C. F. (2019). Learning, Impulsive Choice, and Discounting Rate. Paper presented at the VII International Seminar on Behavior and Applications (SINCA), Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, November 13-15, 2019.

Pierce, T., & Aparicio C. F. (2019). Impulsive Choice and Temporal Discrimination: Is There Any Relation? Paper presented at the VII International Seminar on Behavior and Applications (SINCA), Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, November 13-15, 2019.

Lilja, S., & Aparicio C. F. (2019). Is Polydipsia a Predictor of Cognitive Impulsivity? Paper presented at the VII International Seminar on Behavior and Applications (SINCA), Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, November 13-15, 2019.

Aparicio, C. F., Malonson, M., & Desrocher, R. (2019). Examining the Magnitude Effect in Aged Spontaneously Hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) Rats.  Paper presented at the VII International Seminar on Behavior and Applications (SINCA), Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, November 13-15, 2019.

Aparicio, C. F., Malonson, M., Desrocher, R. E., & Gonzales, A. J. V. (2019). Impulsivity, Discounting Rate, and Sensitivity to Immediacy in Rodent Models of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Oral Communication presented at the III International Congress of Psychobiology, Granada, Spain, May 31.

Desrocher, R. E., Malonson, M., Gonzales, A. J. V. & Aparicio, C. F.  (2019). The Matching Law Fitting Discounting Data from the Spontaneously Hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) Rat. Poster presented at the III International Congress of Psychobiology, Granada, Spain, May 31.

Malonson, M., Desrocher, R. E., & Gonzales, A. J. V. & Aparicio, C. F.  (2019). Impulsivity and Experience in Spontaneously Hypertensive (SHR and Lewis (LEW) Rats. Poster presented at the III International Congress of Psychobiology, Granada, Spain, May 31.

Aparicio, C. F. (2018). Animal Models of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Delay Discounting, Timing, and Schedule-Induced Polydipsia. Symposium presented at the 9th Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis (EABA), Wurzburg, Germany, September 19.

Aparicio, C. F. & Malonson, M. (2018). Experience in the Impulsive Task Determines Discounting Rate of Delayed Reinforcers. Symposium presented at the 9th Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis (EABA), Wurzburg, Germany, September 19.

Aparicio, C. F. & O’Brien, K. (2018). Animal Models of ADHD, Impulsive Choice, and Discounting Rate. Symposium presented at the 9th Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis (EABA), Wurzburg, Germany, September 19.

Aparicio, C. F. & Desrocher, R. (2018). Polydipsia and Delay Discounting. Symposium presented at the 9th Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis (EABA), Wurzburg, Germany, September 19.

Aparicio, C. F. & Hennigan, P. J. (2018). Timing, Discounting Rate, and Impulsive Choice. Symposium presented at the 9th Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis (EABA), Wurzburg, Germany, September 19.

Aparicio, C. F. (2017). Symposium: Impulsive Behavior, Choice, and Animal Models of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Presented at the VI Congreso SAVECC de Análisis Funcional del Comportamiento, Sevilla, Spain, October 5.

Aparicio, C. F., & Hennigan, P. J. (2017). Choice, Concurrent Random Ratio Schedules, and the Matching Law. Paper presented at the VI Convention for the Functional Analysis of Behavior-SAVECC, Sevilla, Spain, October 5.

Aparicio, C. F., Hennigan, P. J., Elcoro, M. (2017). Polydipsia and Impulsive Choice: Is there any Relation? Paper presented at the VI Convention for the Functional Analysis of Behavior-SAVECC, Sevilla, Spain, October 5.

Elcoro, M., Aparicio, C. F., & Hennigan, P. J. (2017). Models of Choice and Delay Discounting in Spontaneously Hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) Rats. Paper presented at the VI Convention for the Functional Analysis of Behavior-SAVECC, Sevilla, Spain, October 5.

Hennigan, P. J., Elcoro, M., & Aparicio, C. F. (2017). Impulsive Choice in Two Animal Models of ADHD. Paper presented at the VI Convention for the Functional Analysis of Behavior-SAVECC, Sevilla, Spain, October 5.

Aparicio, C. F. (2016). The Raymond Erickson Talk.” Invited talk given by a former UNH graduate of the Ph. D. program who has gone on to be successfully in academics, scheduled for October 27 of 2016.