title: Indicators of early and late processing reveal the importance of within-trial-time for theories of associative learning.
abstract: In four human learning experiments (Pavlovian skin conductance, causal learning, speeded classification task), we evaluated several associative learning theories that assume either an elemental (modified unique cue model and Harris' model) or a configural (Pearce's configural theory and an extension of it) form of stimulus processing. The experiments used two modified patterning problems (A/B/C+, AB/BC/AC+ vs. ABC-; A+, BC+ vs. ABC-). Pearce's configural theory successfully predicted all of our data reflecting early stimulus processing, while the predictions of the elemental theories were in accord with all of our data reflecting later stages of stimulus processing. Our results suggest that the form of stimulus representation depends on the amount of time available for stimulus processing. Our findings highlight the necessity to investigate stimulus processing during conditioning on a finer time scale than usually done in contemporary research.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Psychologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany. lachnit@uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lachnit
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thorwart
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schultheis
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lotz
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uengoer
mesh_terms: D001245:Association Learning; D006801:Humans; D011582:Psychological Theory