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Related Experiment Videos

Contrast effects in maintained generalization gradients.

J C Malone, J E Staddon

    Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
    |January 1, 1973
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Pigeons learn discriminations by associating stimuli with reinforcement. Local contrast effects in pigeons reveal that stimuli have both excitatory and inhibitory influences on behavior, challenging traditional learning theories.

    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral psychology
    • Animal cognition

    Background:

    • Discrimination learning is a fundamental process in associative learning.
    • Traditional models suggest stimuli acquire excitatory or inhibitory properties.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the nature of local contrast effects in pigeons during discrimination learning.
    • To determine if local contrast effects are explained by relative reinforcement frequency or response rates.
    • To propose a more adequate account of discrimination learning.

    Main Methods:

    • Pigeons were trained on a line-orientation discrimination task.
    • Reinforcement was varied, and responding was recorded during stimulus presentations.
    • Experiment I examined generalization gradients and contrast effects.

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  • Experiment II analyzed the relative nature of local contrast effects.

    • Main Results:

    • Stable generalization gradients formed, accompanied by persistent behavioral and local contrast effects.
    • Local contrast effects were related to average response rates, not relative reinforcement frequency.
    • Local contrast effects were shown to be relative, enhancing or depressing responding based on preceding stimuli.

    Conclusions:

    • Discrimination learning is not solely based on stimuli acquiring excitatory or inhibitory properties.
    • Stimuli exert both excitatory and inhibitory influences, modulated by their associative value.
    • A more nuanced understanding of stimulus control in learning is required.