Intradimensional transfer of duration matching-to-sample in pigeons with signals differing in color and location

Duration matching-to-sample (MTS) was used to study the influence of signal attributes on temporal transfer in pigeons. Each of two groups was trained on two problems that involved 2 and 10 s duration samples that varied with respect to color and-or spatial location. For Group Color, signals were either a red or white light projected from the front wall. For Group Location, signals were a white light from either the front wall or the ceiling. Within each group, each combination of signal type (color or location) and duration was associated with a different choice stimulus, and one set of color choices always followed one signal type and a different set of color choices always followed the other signal type. Transfer tests involved a set of choices that had not previously been associated with the type of signal presented on that trial. Accuracy on transfer trials was very high in Group Color but at a chance level in Group Location, which indicates that temporal transfer occurs when signals emanate from the same location but not when signals emanate from different locations. These results are discussed in terms of other evidence of transfer of duration-MTS.