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Associative relationships in human predictive learning
A Matías Gámez1, Rafael Martos, María J F Abad
1Universidad de Jaén (Spain).
The Spanish Journal of Psychology
|July 20, 2013
Summary
Human predictive learning relies on both cue-outcome associations and judgment-outcome associations. Devaluing outcomes reduced predictive responses, while response choices demonstrated learned judgment-outcome links in predictive learning.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Background:
- Human predictive learning involves forming associations between cues and outcomes.
- Understanding these associations is key to deciphering decision-making processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of cue-outcome associations in simple predictive learning.
- To determine if judgment-outcome associations are also formed during predictive training.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted using predictive judgment training paradigms.
- Experiment 1 involved outcome devaluation after training.
- Experiment 2 examined response transfer from predictive judgments to instrumental actions.
Main Results:
- Outcome devaluation significantly decreased predictive responses to cues linked to devalued outcomes.
- Participants preferentially selected instrumental responses consistent with prior predictive judgments when cues were present.
- Response choices were random in the absence of cues, indicating cue-dependent control.
Conclusions:
- Cue-outcome associations are fundamental to simple human predictive learning.
- Predictive training also establishes judgment-outcome associations, influencing subsequent behavior.
- These findings elucidate the dual associative mechanisms underlying predictive learning and decision-making.
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