Dynamics of time discrimination: II. The effects of multiple impulses.
According to a diffusion generalization model, time discrimination is determined by the frequency and recency of preceding intervals of time. A procedure for studying rapid timing was used to investigate whether pigeons' wait-time responses were sensitive to these factors. In Experiment 1 the number (two or eight) and spacing (consecutive or far apart) of 5-s interfood intervals (called impulses) intercalated in a series of 15-s interfood intervals (nonimpulses) were studied. Experiment 2 was identical to the first but the interfood intervals were increased by a factor of three. Overall, impulses shortened wait times in the next interfood interval. However, several impulses occurring in succession extended the localized effect of an impulse: Wait times following a set of eight-close impulses were slow to recover to preimpulse levels. The results show that linear waiting is only an approximation to the dynamic process, and a process that is sensitive to events in an animal's remote past, such as the diffusion generalization model, provides a better account of rapid timing effects.
Higa
J J
JJ
Department of Psychology, Experimental, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0086, USA. jennifer@psych.duke.edu
D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D003118:Color Perception; D010856:Columbidae; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D011939:Mental Recall; D009042:Motivation; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D013998:Time Perception