Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: In delayed matching-to-sample, there is an initial (or sample) stimulus and two test (or comparison) stimuli. When pigeons are trained to match, they presumably choose between the two comparison stimuli according to their ability to remember the sample. When the sample cannot be remembered, comparison choice should depend on the history of reinforcement associated with each of the comparison stimuli (i.e., the comparison base rates). In the present research, pigeons acquired two matching tasks in which samples S1 and S2 were each associated with one of two comparisons C1 and C2 (equal experience with both trial types), and samples S1 and S3 were each associated with one of two other comparisons C3 and C4 (equal experience with both trial types). As the retention interval increased, the pigeons showed a bias to choose the comparison (C1 or C3) associated with the more frequently occurring sample (S1). Thus, pigeons are sensitive, not just to the probability of reinforcement associated with the each of the comparison stimuli (i.e., the base rates) which were equal, but also to the (irrelevant) likelihood that each of the samples was presented (i.e., base-rate neglect).
Authors: Thomas R. Zentall, Tricia S. Clement
Institution: University of Kentucky
Language: English
Subfield: General Decision Sciences
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2625819368