Abstract
Three pigeons were trained on a multiple schedule in which keypecking was reinforced on a fixed-interval (FI) schedule in the presence of a vertical line and on a variable-interval (VI) schedule in the presence of a horizontal line. Response rates in the former component were positively accelerated (the “FI scallop”), whereas response rates in the second component were relatively constant. In a subsequent generalization test on the line-tilt continuum, the index of curvature decreased systematically as the line was rotated from vertical to horizontal in 30-deg steps. Frequency distributions of indices of curvature suggested that intermediate average index values for intermediate generalization test stimuli were mainly the result of intermediate response patterns in the individual test stimulus presentation, rather than the averaging of VI-like patterns during some stimulus presentations with FI-like patterns during other stimulus presentations.
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This research was supported by Grant 18290 from the National Institute of Mental Health to G.W.F. and by a NDEA Title IV fellowship awarded to T.D.N.
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Nelson, T.D., Farthing, G.W. Generalization of fixed-interval response patterning in pigeons. Animal Learning & Behavior 1, 183–188 (1973). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199071
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199071