Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Real-World Application of Classical Conditioning01:15

Real-World Application of Classical Conditioning

2.5K
Classical conditioning not only includes the initial pairing of stimuli but also extends to more complex forms, such as higher-order conditioning. Higher-order conditioning involves creating associations beyond the primary conditioned stimulus, resulting in a chain of conditioned responses.
Higher-order, or second-order, conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an already established conditioned stimulus through repeated pairings. For instance, if a dog has been...
2.5K
Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction01:24

Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction

2.0K
Generalization, discrimination, and extinction are key concepts in operant conditioning that influence how behaviors are learned and maintained.
Generalization occurs when a behavior reinforced in one context is performed in similar situations. For instance, a student who studies diligently for calculus and receives excellent grades might apply the same study habits to psychology and history, expecting similar results. Generalization shows how learning in one setting can influence behavior in...
2.0K
Principle of Equivalence01:18

Principle of Equivalence

2.7K
According to Albert Einstein (1897-1955), free-falling and feeling weightless are intrinsically linked. If a person were in free-fall under gravity, for example, diving towards the Earth from an airplane, they would feel completely weightless. Similarly, a person descending in a lift may feel partially weightless. Broadly speaking, it is assumed that an object in a uniform gravitational field and an object undergoing constant acceleration in the absence of gravity are under the same...
2.7K
Associative Learning01:27

Associative Learning

2.0K
Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...
2.0K
Neural Circuits01:25

Neural Circuits

3.4K
Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
3.4K
Causes of Similarity-Dissimilarity Effect01:26

Causes of Similarity-Dissimilarity Effect

353
The similarity-dissimilarity effect, a fundamental concept in social psychology, explains how interpersonal similarities and differences influence attraction and social interactions. This effect is supported by three key psychological perspectives: balance theory, social comparison theory, and consensual validation.Balance Theory and Cognitive ConsistencyBalance theory, developed by Fritz Heider, posits that individuals seek cognitive consistency in their relationships. When two people share...
353

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Electrospun PVA-chitosan nanofibers with antibacterial properties for wound healing: unveiling the potential of low molecular weight chitosan.

Journal of materials chemistry. B·2026
Same author

Risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopaenia syndrome (TTS) after vaccination with AZD1222: a European VAC4EU post-authorisation safety study.

Vaccine·2026
Same author

Comprehensive analysis of heart failure: Characteristics, treatment, and outcomes in a reduced ejection fraction patient cohort from SIDIAP, Catalonia, Spain.

Atencion primaria·2026
Same author

Clinical and bacteriological effectiveness of three different short-course antibiotic regimens and single-dose fosfomycin for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections in women (SCOUT): a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, randomised clinical trial.

Lancet (London, England)·2026
Same author

Establishing emergent analogical spatiotemporal relations.

Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior·2026
Same author

Urinary tract infections in women in Catalonia, Spain: a population-based observational cohort study in primary care.

Frontiers in pharmacology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition
12:49

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition

Published on: July 13, 2019

18.3K

Stimuli with identical contextual functions taught independently become functionally equivalent.

Luis Antonio Pérez-González1, Elvira Díaz, Silvia Fernández-García

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n. Despacho 209, 33003, Oviedo, Spain, laperez@uniovi.es.

Learning & Behavior
|February 13, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Humans can learn to equate stimuli based on their functional roles, even without direct association. This discovery in contextual learning may explain language comprehension and aid in understanding developmental disorders.

More Related Videos

Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies
05:22

Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: May 9, 2019

5.9K
A Two-interval Forced-choice Task for Multisensory Comparisons
07:13

A Two-interval Forced-choice Task for Multisensory Comparisons

Published on: November 9, 2018

11.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition
12:49

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition

Published on: July 13, 2019

18.3K
Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies
05:22

Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: May 9, 2019

5.9K
A Two-interval Forced-choice Task for Multisensory Comparisons
07:13

A Two-interval Forced-choice Task for Multisensory Comparisons

Published on: November 9, 2018

11.6K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Behavioral Science
  • Learning Theory

Background:

  • Traditional learning models often rely on direct stimulus associations.
  • Investigating learning processes independent of direct associations is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of cognition.
  • Equivalence relations, where stimuli become interchangeable based on shared functions, offer a framework for exploring complex learning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore a novel learning process in humans that does not require direct stimulus associations.
  • To test the hypothesis that contextual stimuli become equivalent if they serve identical functions within different relational contexts.
  • To investigate the role of functional equivalence in higher-order learning and cognition.

Main Methods:

  • A conditional discrimination task was employed, involving first-order (AB) and second-order (XAB) discriminations.
  • Participants were trained to match stimuli based on their relational functions.
  • The procedure was replicated with novel stimuli (YHJ) to verify functional equivalence, followed by a probe under extinction.

Main Results:

  • 13 out of 14 participants successfully matched stimuli according to their contextual functions.
  • The results confirmed the hypothesis that stimuli can become equivalent based on shared functional roles.
  • Alternative explanations for the observed learning were systematically ruled out through experimental design.

Conclusions:

  • Humans can establish stimulus equivalence based on functional relations, independent of direct associations.
  • This functional learning process may underlie complex cognitive abilities, including language comprehension.
  • Understanding this learning mechanism could inform interventions for developmental disorders like autism.