Reinforcement Concordance Induces and Maintains Stimulus Associations in Pigeons

摘要: In a first experiment. pigeons were trained to discriminate two pairs of simultaneously presented stimuli. A+ C− and B+ D−. Both successively repeatedly in every session. After the birds learned discriminations, both tasks synchronously reversed (i.e., A− C+ B− D+) several times. When reversal performance had stabilized, test sessions run which one discrimination (the “leader” task, e.g., C−) was for trials before second “trailer” introduced. The animals acquired trailing task somewhat faster than leading suggesting that associations A ↔ B C D built up between stimuli forming supporting transfer. experiment showed further experience with where constituent compounded (AB+Cd− or Ab−Cd+) as well singly, enhanced transfer subsequent sessions. third same half reversals involving only (for example by switching from B−, D− B+, D−) more slowly full discriminations. These results support hypothesis can associate have concordant reinforcement histories. allocation change causes responding stimulus such an association, tend generalize response other stimulus.