title: Short-term memory for responses: the "choose-small" effect.
abstract: Pigeons' short-term memory for fixed-ratio requirements was assessed using a delayed symbolic matching-to-sample procedure. Different choices were reinforced after fixed-ratio 10 and fixed-ratio 40 requirements, and delays of 0, 5, or 20 s were sometimes placed between sample ratios and choice. All birds made disproportionate numbers of responses to the small-ratio choice alternative when delays were interposed between ratios and choice, and this bias increased as a function of delay. Preference for the small fixed-ratio alternative was also observed on "no-sample" trials, during which the choice alternatives were presented without a prior sample ratio. This "choose-small" bias is analogous to results obtained by Spetch and Wilkie (1983) with event duration as the discriminative stimulus. The choose-small bias was attenuated when the houselight was turned on during delays, but overall accuracy was not influenced systematically by the houselight manipulation.
authors.affiliation: Arizona State University.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fetterman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacEwen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001288:Attention; D002755:Choice Behavior; D010856:Columbidae; D003210:Concept Formation; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D013998:Time Perception