Related Experiment Videos
Contrast and stimulus generalization following prolonged discrimination training.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|May 1, 1971
Summary
Pigeons trained on discrimination tasks showed consistent response rates and steep generalization gradients, even after extended training. These findings challenge theories suggesting emotional responses to extinction stimuli diminish over time.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Learning and Conditioning
- Comparative Psychology
Background:
- Discrimination learning involves associating stimuli with reinforcement or extinction.
- Terrace's hypothesis suggests emotional responses to extinction stimuli decrease with prolonged training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of discrimination training on pigeon behavior.
- To test Terrace's hypothesis regarding emotional responses to extinction stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Pigeons underwent discrimination training with varying stimulus conditions (line tilt, blank key).
- Response rates were recorded during extensive training (64 sessions).
- Stimulus generalization was assessed along a line-tilt dimension post-training.
Main Results:
- High response rates to positive stimuli were maintained throughout training.
- Generalization gradients around both excitatory and inhibitory stimuli remained steep.
- Results were consistent regardless of the specific discrimination task used.
Conclusions:
- Extended discrimination training did not lead to dissipation of responses to extinction stimuli.
- Findings do not support the hypothesis that emotional responses to extinction stimuli diminish over time with prolonged training.
- Behavioral gradients in pigeons remain robust even after extensive discrimination learning.