title: Representations of single and compound stimuli in negative and positive patterning.
abstract: In four experiments, rats were trained on different patterning discriminations before being tested with compounds composed of novel combinations of the trained stimuli. In Experiment 1, rats were trained on a negative-patterning schedule (A+ B+ AB-) intermixed with reinforced presentations of a second compound (CD+). On a subsequent test, the rats responded more to two novel compounds, AC and BD, than to A and B, but less than to CD. In Experiment 2, rats were trained on two concurrent negative-patterning discriminations (A+ B+ AB-, C+ D+ CD-). On test, they responded more to AC and BD than to AB and CD, but less than to the single stimuli. In Experiment 3, rats were trained on two concurrent positive-patterning discriminations (A- B- AB+, C- D- CD+). On test, their response rates to AC and BD were not different from the response rates to the trained compounds (AB and CD). Finally, in Experiment 4, rats were trained on a positive- and negative-patterning discrimination concurrently. Once again, on test, response rates to AC and BD were not different from responding on reinforced trials of the trained discriminations (A+, B+, and CD+). We discuss the implications of these findings for elemental and configural models of stimulus representation.
authors: School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. justinh@psych.usyd.edu.au
authors: Justin A
authors: JA
authors: Harris
authors: Saba
authors: S
authors: Gharaei
authors: Clinton A
authors: CA
authors: Moore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning; D001307:Auditory Perception; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D005260:Female; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009949:Orientation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012193:Reversal Learning; D014796:Visual Perception