Analysis of the content of configural representations: the role of associatively evoked and trace memories.
Two experiments examined the content of configural learning in rats. In Experiment 1, after simple pre-exposure to two hybrid contexts (AB and CD), rats acquired a configural discrimination involving two of the contexts (A and C) and two auditory stimuli (X and Y; AX→food, AY→no food, CX→no food, and CY→food). When rats were then placed in context B, they were more likely to respond to X than Y, and when they were placed in context D the reverse was the case. Experiment 2 demonstrated that rats can acquire a configural discrimination involving the presence of context (A) and its memory trace (a; AX→food, AY→no food, aX→no food, and aY→food). These results show that associatively provoked memories (Experiment 1) and memory traces (Experiment 2) can participate in configural discriminations.
Lin
Tzu-Ching E
TC
School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, United Kingdom.
Honey
R C
RC
D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning; D003210:Concept Formation; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D051381:Rats; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012718:Set, Psychology