Single-system models and interference in category learning: commentary on Waldron and Ashby (2001).
In a recent article, Waldron and Ashby (2001) observed that performing a concurrent task caused greater interference in learning a simple one-dimensional categorization rule than in learning a complex three-dimensional one. They argued that this result was incompatible with all existing single-system models of category learning but was as predicted by the multiple-system COVIS model (Ashby, Alfonso-Reese, Turken, & Waldron, 1998). In contrast to Waldron and Ashby's argument, we demonstrate that the single-system ALCOVE model (Kruschke, 1992) naturally predicts the result by assuming that its selective-attention learning process is disrupted by the concurrent task.
Nosofsky
Robert M
RM
Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA. nosofsky@indiana.edu
Kruschke
John K
JK
D001288:Attention; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D011340:Problem Solving