1. Blocking by fixed and variable stimuli: Effects of stimulus distribution on blocking.
- Author
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Jennings, Dómhnall J. and Bonardi, Charlotte
- Subjects
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ASSOCIATIVE learning , *PSYCHOLOGY of learning , *LABORATORY rats , *ASYMPTOTES , *CONDITIONED response - Abstract
An experiment with rats compared the ability of fixed and variable duration cues to produce blocking. Rats in group B (Blocking) were trained that both fixed- (F) and variable- (V) duration cues would be followed by food delivery. In a subsequent training stageFandVcontinued to be reinforced, butFwas accompanied byX, andVbyY. In the test phase responding toXandYwas examined. Control group O (Overshadowing) received identical treatment, except thatFandVwere nonreinforced in the first training stage. In group B there was evidence for blocking, but only ofX,which had been conditioned in compound with the fixed-durationF; there was no evidence for blocking ofY, which had been conditioned in compound with the variable-durationV. It is suggested that this result may occur because fixed cues reach a higher, more stable asymptote of associative strength than do their variable equivalents. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2017
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