title: Latent timing in human conditioned avoidance.
abstract: Four experiments explored signal timing in human conditioned avoidance. Participants received discrimination training with different duration signals that announced the outcome (S+) or not (S-). Temporal discrimination and superposition of performance to S+ signals of different length (3, 6, or 9 s) was found both in within-subjects (Experiment 1a) and between-subjects (Experiment 1b) designs. S- signals also produced a temporal discrimination and superposition effect during a single test trial conducted after the meaning of the signals was reversed through instructions. Experiments 2a and 2b replicated these results in a situation in which (a) the durations of the S+ and S- signals were different (4.5 or 9 s) to prevent any temporal generalization between them (Experiment 2a), and (b) only S- signals were presented during training, precluding developing of inhibition to S- (Experiment 2b). These results show that participants time both S+ and S- signals in human conditioned avoidance, and they further suggest that the timing of a cue is independent of reinforcement.
authors.affiliation: Unite de Formation et de Recherche de Psychologie, University of Lille 3, France.
authors.forename: Mikaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molet
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Callejas-Aguilera
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rosas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001245:Association Learning; D001288:Attention; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D003118:Color Perception; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005795:Generalization, Stimulus; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012193:Reversal Learning; D013998:Time Perception; D018910:Video Games