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Related Experiment Videos

Stimulus control in a discrimination based on a distinctive feature.

D R Furrow, V M Lolordo

    Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
    |March 1, 1975
    PubMed
    Summary

    Pigeons learned to distinguish visual displays based on a unique feature. Both common and unique features on the positive display decreased response rates, challenging prior research on feature control in discrimination learning.

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    Area of Science:

    • Animal behavior
    • Comparative psychology
    • Learning and memory

    Background:

    • Instrumental conditioning is crucial for understanding associative learning.
    • Feature discrimination in animals is influenced by stimulus presentation methods.
    • Previous research suggested opposing control functions for common and distinctive features.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate feature control in pigeons during visual discrimination tasks.
    • To examine the effect of simultaneous versus successive stimulus presentation on feature control.
    • To reconcile conflicting findings regarding common and distinctive feature control.

    Main Methods:

    • Six pigeons underwent instrumental training to discriminate between two visual displays.
    • Displays differed by a distinctive feature present only on the positive (food-correlated) stimulus.

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  • Generalization tests assessed response gradients for common and distinctive features.

    • Main Results:

    • Pigeons successfully learned the discrimination task.
    • Both common and distinctive features on the positive display elicited decremental generalization gradients.
    • This finding contradicts previous assertions of opposite control functions for common and distinctive features.

    Conclusions:

    • Simultaneous stimulus presentation, unlike successive presentation, leads to decremental gradients for both common and distinctive features.
    • Procedural differences in stimulus presentation significantly impact the observed control functions of features in discrimination learning.
    • The study highlights the importance of methodological considerations in interpreting animal learning research.