The effects of feature extinction in dual-response feature-positive discriminations.

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Learning and Cognition, Vol 49(4), Oct 2023, 273-288; doi:10.1037/xan0000360In a typical feature-positive discrimination, responding is reinforced (+) during the target stimulus (A) on trials with the feature stimulus (X), but not during target-alone trials (A−). When X and A are presented simultaneously, direct control by X is typically observed; however, when the stimuli are presented serially, X sets the occasion for responding to A. In the current dual-response procedures, one response (e.g., left lever press) was reinforced during feature-target trials (XA+) and a different response (e.g., right lever press) was reinforced during target-alone trials (A+). In Experiment 1, rats received either serial (X → A+) or simultaneous (X:A+) presentations of the feature-target compound along with target-alone trials (A+). Contrary to our predictions, the serial group failed to learn the discrimination and the simultaneous group demonstrated occasion setting. In Experiment 2, the salience of the feature was increased, which resulted in direct control by the feature in both groups. In Experiment 3, an additional serial group was included with a longer interval between the feature (X) and target (A). Despite the reduced temporal proximity of X to reinforcement, direct control was again observed in all groups. The current pattern of results in the simultaneous and serial groups is interpreted in relation to the enhanced salience of A relat...
Source: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes - Category: Zoology Source Type: research