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Cognitive Learning

Cognitive Learning

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Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior

Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior

Published on: April 16, 2014

Understanding behavior under nonverbal transitive-inference procedures: Stimulus-control-topography analyses.

Ann Galizio¹, Adam H Doughty¹, Dean C Williams²

¹College of Charleston, United States.

Behavioural Processes

|May 18, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Nonhuman animals and humans can infer relations without language. This study investigated nonverbal transitive inference, exploring accounts beyond simple reinforcement, focusing on operant stimulus control.

Keywords:

Human Mouse click Nonverbal transitive inference Stimulus control topography Transitive inference Value transfer

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Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

Published on: May 14, 2019

Area of Science:

Behavioral Psychology
Cognitive Science

Background:

Verbal transitive inference (e.g., A>B, B>C, infer A>C) is well-understood.
Nonverbal transitive inference in nonhumans and humans is less understood, with competing explanations.
Previous research trained stimulus relations (e.g., A+B-, B+C-) to test nonverbal transitive inference.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore alternative explanations for nonverbal transitive inference.
To investigate the roles of reinforcement (value-transfer theory) and operant stimulus control.
To differentiate between transitive inference per se and stimulus control mechanisms.

Main Methods:

Three experiments used college students and nonverbal transitive inference tasks.
Stimulus relations were trained (e.g., A+B-, B+C-, C+D-).
Variations included omitted stimulus sets and novel stimuli to isolate control factors.

Main Results:

Experiment 1: Participants inferred B>G with a gap (A+B-, B+C-, C+D-///E+F-, F+G-, G+H-).
Experiment 2: Participants inferred B>G with a gap and novel stimuli (A+B-, B+C-, C+D-///E+F-, F+G-, G+X-).
Experiment 3: Participants inferred G>B with a gap and novel stimuli (Y+B-, B+C-, C+D-///E+F-, F+G-, G+X-).

Conclusions:

Findings suggest nonverbal transitive inference is not solely based on transitive inference principles.
Results support an account based in operant stimulus control.
Stimulus B appears to acquire a specific stimulus control topography, influencing choices.