Value transfer in a simultaneous discrimination appears to result from within-event pavlovian conditioning.
When pigeons acquire a simple simultaneous discrimination, some of the value acquired by the S+ transfers to the S-. The mechanism underlying this transfer of value was examined in three experiments. In Experiment 1, pigeons trained on two simultaneous discriminations (A + B- and C +/- D-) showed a preference for B over D. This preference was reduced, however, following the devaluation of A. In Experiment 2, when after the same original training, value was given to D, the pigeons' preference for C did not significantly increase. In Experiment 3, when both discriminations involved partial reinforcement (S +/-), A + C- training resulted in a preference for B over D, whereas B + D- training resulted in a preference for A over C. Thus, simultaneous discrimination training appears to result in bidirectional within-event conditioning involving the S+ and S-.
Zentall
T R
TR
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky Lexington 40506, USA.
Sherburne
L M
LM
Roper
K L
KL
Kraemer
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D010856:Columbidae; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology