Repeated reversals of concurrent olfactory discriminations in rats: A search for functional equivalence.
Behav Processes
; 193: 104535, 2021 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34757106
ABSTRACT
Equivalence class formation has been difficult to demonstrate in nonhumans, but one method that has been successful is a simple discrimination procedure in which contingencies associated with two sets of arbitrary discriminative stimuli are repeatedly reversed. Pigeons and sea lions shift responding after encountering the newly-reversed contingency with only a few set members, showing evidence of functional equivalence. We used this strategy to determine whether similar findings would occur in rats using olfactory stimuli. Rats were trained to nose-poke in the presence of six stimuli arbitrarily designated as members of the positive set; responses to the six members of the negative set were not reinforced. When discriminative performance was established, contingencies associated with each set were reversed and re-reversed each time subjects met a performance criterion. All subjects successfully acquired the concurrent simple discriminations and were exposed to between 12 and 60 reversals, but none showed clear evidence of functional class formation until a final procedure in which the stimulus sets that had been in place were arbitrarily rearranged. Acquisition with these new stimulus sets was impaired, showing that class membership generated by the original stimulus sets interfered with learning the new ones, thus providing evidence of functional equivalence.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Leones Marinos
/
Aprendizaje Discriminativo
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Behav Processes
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos