title: Memory processes in delayed spatial discriminations: response intentions or response mediation?
abstract: Pigeons were trained on a pair-comparison task in which left versus right choices were reinforced following different sequences of two center-key stimuli. Choice accuracy was higher when retention intervals occurred after the entire sequence than when they separated the two stimuli comprising it, and this effect occurred independently of whether the initial and terminal stimuli came from the same or different dimensions. The initial stimulus from the prior trial was a source of proactive interference only in groups for which the retention interval separated the two sequence stimuli. By contrast, differential delay-interval behavior was observed only in groups for which the retention interval followed presentation of the entire sequence. These results indicate that coding processes in delayed discriminations are influenced by the location of the retention interval, and that response mediation affects retention performances if the reinforced choice can be determined prior to the interval.
authors.affiliation: Purdue University, Department of Psychological Sciences, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1364, USA. uche@psych.purdue.edu
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Urcuioli
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: DeMarse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D001288:Attention; D010856:Columbidae; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009949:Orientation; D011334:Proactive Inhibition; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012153:Retention, Psychology