Abstract
Pigeons were trained on a free-operant, go/no-go discrimination in which S+ (variable-interval reinforcement) was a line-color compound produced by rapidly alternating the separate line and color elements on the response key in a 0.8-sec cycle. For Group 1, S− (extinction) was a steady disk of light the same color as the S+ compound, whereas for Group 2 S− was a different color. Group 3 received nondifferential training with S+ only. Subsequently, line-tilt generalization gradients were significantly steeper in Group 1 than in either Group 2 or Group 3. Also, in the test, relative generalization from the line-color compound to the line element alone was significantly greater in Group 1 than in Group 3.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
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.
FARTHING, G. W., & HEARST, E. Attention in the pigeon: Testing with compounds or elements. Learning & Motivation. 1970, 1, 65–78.
NEWMAN, F. L., & BARON, M. R. Stimulus generalization along the dimension of angularity. Journal of Comparative & Physiological Psychology, 1965, 60, 59–63.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This experiment represents part of a dissertation submitted by the author to the Graduate School of the University of Missouri, Columbia, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD degree (August 1969). The research was supported by a USPHS predoctoral research fellowship (MH37745) awarded to the author and by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH12120) to Eliot Hearst. Preparation of this article was supported by a NIMH grant (MH18290) to the author.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Farthing, G.W. Overshadowing in the discrimination of successive compound stimuli. Psychon Sci 28, 29–32 (1972). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03328652
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03328652