Abstract
Sixteen cats learned a successive discrimination between circles and 1-shaped figures and were then tested for generalization with seven new stimulus figures. Seven cats maintained responsiveness to visual cues on the generalization tests, and the results from these Ss indicated that cats classify visual figures as open or closed in terms of both complexity (number of sides) and perimeter. The other nine cats continued to respond correctly to the training figures but manifested strong position preferences on the nondifferentially rewarded test trials. The results are compatible with the argument that stimulus generalization reflects a failure of discrimination.
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This research was supported by Grant MH-04726 from the National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Public Health Service.
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Warren, J.M., McGonigle, B.O. Perimeter, complexity and generalization of a form discrimination by cats. Psychon Sci 17, 16–17 (1969). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329143
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329143