A positional coding mechanism in pigeons after learning multiple three-item lists.
Pigeons were trained on three three-item lists (List 1: A(1) --> B(1) --> C(1;) List 2: A(2) --> B(2) --> C(2;) List 3: A(3) --> B(3) --> C(3)). After sessions in which any one of the three lists could be presented on a trial, derived-maintained list and derived-changed list probe trials were introduced. The derived list probe trials were composed of three items, one drawn from each of the training lists. On derived-maintained probe trials, each item was in the same ordinal position it occupied during training (e.g., A(3) --> B(1) --> C(2)). On derived-changed probe trials, items that occupied the second and third position during training were exchanged (e.g., A(2) --> C(3) --> B(1)). The performance of subjects on derived-maintained probe trials was significantly above chance and no different to that observed on the training lists. In contrast, subjects' performance on derived-changed probe trials was significantly below chance. To our knowledge, this is the first study that has demonstrated pigeons are able to learn and retain multiple three-item lists. In addition, subjects' performance on the derived-maintained probe trials suggests that they acquire knowledge of each list item's ordinal position when learning multiple lists.
Department of Psychology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Damian
D
Scarf
Michael
M
Colombo
D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning; D010856:Columbidae; D003210:Concept Formation; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012691:Serial Learning