Abstract
Discrimination performance was investigated with pigeons using feature negative (FN) discrimination procedures which differed in the temporal arrangement of the stimuli on S− trials. In both procedures, a single common element was presented on reinforced (S+) trials. In thesimultaneous FN procedure, a distinguishing element was presented simultaneously with the common element of S− trials. In thesequential FN procedure, the distinguishing element preceded onset of the common element on S− trials. In two experiments, the sequential FN procedure yielded better discrimination performance. In Experiment 1, a summation test designed to separate learning and performance variables indicated that sequential FN subjects had learned the negative relationship between the distinguishing element and reinforcement while simultaneous FN subjects had not. In Experiment 2, summation and acquisition tests indicated that the distinguishing element developed inhibitory properties in the sequential FN procedure but not in the simultaneous FN procedure.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Reference Note
Collins, R. L.Successive discrimination between a single element and a sequential compound stimulus. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, 1976.
References
Brown, P. L., &Jenkins, H. M. Auto-shaping of the pigeon’s keypeck.Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1968,11, 1–8.
Cornell, J. M., &Strub, H. M. A technique for demonstrating the inhibition function of SΔ.Psychonomic Science, 1965,3, 25–26.
Farthing, G. W. Discrimination of compound stimuli involving the presence or absence of a distinctive visual feature.Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1971,16, 327–336.
Fleshler, M., &Hoffman, H. S. A progression for generating variable interval schedules.Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1962,5, 529–530.
Grant, D. A., &Schneider, D. E. Intensity of the conditioned stimulus and strength of conditioning. I. The conditioned eyelid response to light.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1948,38, 690–696.
Grant, D. A., &Schneider, D. E. Intensity of the conditioned stimulus and strength of conditioning. II. The conditioned galvanic skin response to an auditory stimulus.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1949,39, 35–40.
Hearst, E. Some persistent problems in the analysis of conditioned inhibition. In R. A. Boakes & M. S. Halliday (Eds.),Inhibition and learning. London: Academic Press, 1972.
Hearst, E. Stimulus relationships and feature selection in learning and behavior. In S. H. Hulse, H. Fowler, & W. K. Honig (Eds.),Cognitive processes in animal behavior. Hillsdale, N.J: Erlbaum, 1978.
Jenkins, H. M. Noticing and responding in a discrimination based on a distinguishing element.Learning and Motivation, 1973,4, 115–137.
Jenkins, H. M., &Sainsbury, R. S. The development of stimulus control through differential reinforcement. In N. J. Mackintosh & W. K. Honig (Eds.),Fundamental issues in associative learning. Halifax: Dalhousie University Press, 1969.
Jenkins, H. M., &Sainsbury, R. S. Discrimination learning with the distinctive feature on positive or negative trials. In D. Mostofsky (Ed.),Attention: Contemporary theory and analysis. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1970.
Mackintosh, N. J. Epilogue: Issues and problems in associative learning. In N. J. Mackintosh & W. K. Honig (Eds.),Fundamental issues in associative learning. Halifax: Dalhousie University Press, 1969.
Pavlov, I. P. Conditioned reflexes (G. V. Anrep, trans.). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1927.
Rescorla, R. A. Pavlovian conditioned inhibition.Psychological Bulletin, 1969,72, 77–94.
Rescorla, R. A., &LoLordo, V. M. Inhibition of avoidance behavior.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1965,59, 406–412.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported in part by NIMH Grants MH 11218 and MH 30487-01 (R. L. Collins, principal investigator) and by NSF Grant BNS-121346226 (M. E. Rashotte, principal investigator). These experiments are based on a thesis by Daniel S. Gokey which fulfilled part of the requirements for the MS degree at Florida State University, December 1977.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gokey, D.S., Collins, R.L. Conditioned inhibition in feature negative discrimination learning with pigeons. Animal Learning & Behavior 8, 231–236 (1980). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199600
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199600