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A positional coding mechanism in pigeons after learning multiple three-item lists

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Abstract

Pigeons were trained on three three-item lists (List 1: A1 → B1 → C1; List 2: A2 → B2 → C2; List 3: A3 → B3 → C3). After sessions in which any one of the three lists could be presented on a trial, derived-maintained list and derived-changed list probe trials were introduced. The derived list probe trials were composed of three items, one drawn from each of the training lists. On derived-maintained probe trials, each item was in the same ordinal position it occupied during training (e.g., A3 → B1 → C2). On derived-changed probe trials, items that occupied the second and third position during training were exchanged (e.g., A2 → C3 → B1). The performance of subjects on derived-maintained probe trials was significantly above chance and no different to that observed on the training lists. In contrast, subjects’ performance on derived-changed probe trials was significantly below chance. To our knowledge, this is the first study that has demonstrated pigeons are able to learn and retain multiple three-item lists. In addition, subjects’ performance on the derived-maintained probe trials suggests that they acquire knowledge of each list item’s ordinal position when learning multiple lists.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Damian Scarf & Michael Colombo

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  1. Damian Scarf
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  2. Michael Colombo
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Correspondence to Michael Colombo.

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Scarf, D., Colombo, M. A positional coding mechanism in pigeons after learning multiple three-item lists. Anim Cogn 13, 653–661 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-010-0315-z

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