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Generalization peak shift for autoshaped and operant key pecks.

S J Weiss¹, R D Weissman

¹The American University.

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

|March 1, 1992

Summary

Pigeons trained with operant or autoshaped methods showed similar stimulus control, with autoshaped pigeons exhibiting a robust "peak shift" in their discrimination learning.

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Area of Science:

Comparative Psychology
Behavioral Neuroscience

Background:

Discrimination learning is fundamental to understanding stimulus control in both operant and classical conditioning.
Previous research suggests similarities in perceptual processing across different learning paradigms, but robust evidence for respondent peak shift is rare.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate and compare stimulus control in pigeons trained via operant (response-reinforcer) and autoshaped (stimulus-reinforcer) contingencies.
To examine the phenomenon of "peak shift" in generalization gradients under both training conditions.

Main Methods:

Pigeons were trained to discriminate between 528-nm and 540-nm stimuli using either operant or autoshaped procedures.
Contingency assays confirmed the type of stimulus control established.
A wavelength generalization test was conducted in extinction following discrimination training.

Main Results:

Both operant and autoshaped groups demonstrated effective discrimination learning.
All pigeons exhibited a "peak shift" on the generalization test, responding most to a stimulus further from the negative stimulus.
Autoshaped pigeons showed significantly higher peak rates (33-80% increase) compared to training stimuli rates.

Conclusions:

The findings support the similarity of perceptual processing in classical (respondent) and operant learning.
The robust demonstration of respondent peak shift in autoshaped pigeons provides strong evidence for two-process theories of stimulus control.
Results are discussed in relation to Spence's gradient-interaction theory and Weiss' two-process model.

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