Abstract
Serial anticipation learning under monotonically decreasing serial patterns was examined in relation to associative-chaining and cognitive approaches. The designation 8-0 describes a two-element serial pattern employing eight pellets on Trial 1 of each day and zero pellets on Trial 2. This investigation examined three two-element serial patterns (8-0, 4-0, 2-0) and six three-element serial patterns (16-2-0,8-2-0,4-2-0, 2-2-0,16-8-0,16-8-0,16-4-0). Better anticipation of the zero-pellet element occurred under the two-element patterns. Among three-element patterns, 16-2-0 and 8-2-0 produced the best anticipation. Serial anticipation learning was sometimes better earlier in training than later in training. Where two- and three-element groups received the same reward magnitude on Trial 1 of each day (e.g., 8-0 vs. 8-2-0), slower Trial 1 running was associated with the two-element pattern.
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This research was supported in part by National Institute of Child Health and Development Grant HD 04379 to E. J. Capaldi.
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Capaldi, E.J., Blitzer, R.D. & Molina, P. Serial anticipation pattern learning in two-element and three-element series. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 14, 22–24 (1979). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329388
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329388