Abstract
Following sessions of free grain delivery, a transparent shield was placed over the magazine, which made food unavailable. Different groups of pigeons then “observed” positive, zero, or negative correlations between the keylight and inaccessible grain. Keypecks were rare in all groups. Next, the shield was removed, and a transfer-test was given in which all subjects were exposed to keylight presentations followed by available grain. The previously positive group pecked sooner and more frequently than the others. A second experiment, which yielded similar results, excluded the possibility that approaches to the keylight during the observation phase had mediated learning in the first experiment. These findings were discussed in relationship to operant and Pavlovian analyses of autoshaping.
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References
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This report is based on a dissertation submitted to Indiana University. The research was supported by NIMH Grant MH 19300 to Eliot Hearst and a grant from the graduate school of Indiana University.
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Browne, M.P. The role of primary reinforcement and overt movements in autoshaping in the pigeon. Animal Learning & Behavior 4, 287–292 (1976). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214051
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214051