Work

Is choice bias in delayed matching a consequence of inter-trial interval effects?

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Despite their intended goal of simply separating trials, inter-trial intervals have been found to affect choice behavior in delayed matching-to-sample procedures, leading to choice biases. In the present study, we assessed the effects of delay on choice without the potential influence of inter-trial intervals. Sixteen pigeons learned a symbolic matching-to-sample task with samples differing in duration (3 s vs. 9 s) and no inter-trial intervals. In testing, a delay lasting 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 s was introduced between sample and comparisons. There were two differing delay conditions: for Group Light Off, the delay was spent in darkness and, for Group Light On, the delay was illuminated by a houselight. For Group Light Off, as the delay increased, matching accuracy following both samples decreased towards indifference. For Group Light On, matching accuracy remained relatively high in short-sample trials but decreased abruptly in long-sample trials (choose-short effect). Hence, we found that a choice bias may occur even without inter-trial intervals. • Choice biases are found in delayed temporal matching. • Aspects of the intertrial-interval (ITI) may lead to those biases. • Pigeons were trained in a temporal matching task without ITIs. • There were no biases when delays were spent in darkness. • With illuminated delays, there was a bias for the “short” option.

Source: Behavioural Processes

DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2025.105153

Authors: Catarina Soares, Mairiele Santos, Carlos Pinto

Institution: University of Minho

Language: English

Topic: Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,550

Funders: Universidade do Minho, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia