Less information results in better midsession reversal accuracy by pigeons

The midsession reversal task involves a simultaneous discrimination between Stimulus 1 (S1) and Stimulus 2 (S2) in which, for the first half of each session, choice of S1 is reinforced and S2 is not, and for the last half of each session, choice of S2 is reinforced and S1 is not. With this task, even after considerable training, pigeons tend to make anticipatory errors as they approach the reversal and they continue to make perseverative errors following the reversal. In the present research, we tested the hypothesis that reversal accuracy would improve by devaluing choice of S2 relative to S1. In Experiment 1, correct choice of S1 was reinforced 100% of the time, whereas correct choice of S2 was reinforced only 20% of the time. This manipulation reduced anticipatory errors but did not increase perseverative errors. In Experiment 2, choice of S1 required a single peck, whereas choice of S2 was devalued by requiring 10 pecks. A similar result was found. In Experiment 3 we devalued S1 by requiring 10 pecks and found decreased accuracy in the form of increased anticipatory errors. Paradoxically, in Experiments 1 and 2, by encouraging the pigeons to avoid using the feedback from choice of S2, and rely solely on feedback from choice of S1, discrimination reversal errors were reduced. The results have implications for attentional theories of learning and theories of behavior change. They also have implications for the conditions responsible for pigeons' tendency to time the occurrence of the change in reinforcement contingencies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).