Multi-modal discrimination learning in humans: evidence for configural theory
Multi-modal discrimination learning in humans: evidence for configural theory
Human contingency learning was used to compare the predictions of configural and elemental theories. In three experiments, participants were required to learn which indicators were associated with an increase in core temperature of a fictitious nuclear plant. Experiments 1 and 2 investigated the rate at which a triple-element stimulus (ABC) could be discriminated from either single-element stimuli (A, B, and C) or double-element stimuli (AB, BC, and AC). Experiment 1 used visual stimuli, whilst Experiment 2 used visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli. In both experiments the participants took longer to discriminate the triple-element stimulus from the more similar double-element stimuli than from the less similar single-element stimuli. Experiment 3 tested for summation with stimuli from either single or multiple modalities and summation was found only in the latter. Thus the pattern of results seen in Experiments 1 and 2 was not dependent on whether the stimuli were single- or multi-modal nor was it dependent on whether the stimuli could elicit summation. This pattern of results is consistent with the predictions of Pearce’s (1987) configural theory.
1477-1495
Redhead, Edward S.
d2342759-2c77-45ef-ac0f-9f70aa5db0df
November 2007
Redhead, Edward S.
d2342759-2c77-45ef-ac0f-9f70aa5db0df
Redhead, Edward S.
(2007)
Multi-modal discrimination learning in humans: evidence for configural theory.
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 60 (11), .
(doi:10.1080/17470210601154560).
Abstract
Human contingency learning was used to compare the predictions of configural and elemental theories. In three experiments, participants were required to learn which indicators were associated with an increase in core temperature of a fictitious nuclear plant. Experiments 1 and 2 investigated the rate at which a triple-element stimulus (ABC) could be discriminated from either single-element stimuli (A, B, and C) or double-element stimuli (AB, BC, and AC). Experiment 1 used visual stimuli, whilst Experiment 2 used visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli. In both experiments the participants took longer to discriminate the triple-element stimulus from the more similar double-element stimuli than from the less similar single-element stimuli. Experiment 3 tested for summation with stimuli from either single or multiple modalities and summation was found only in the latter. Thus the pattern of results seen in Experiments 1 and 2 was not dependent on whether the stimuli were single- or multi-modal nor was it dependent on whether the stimuli could elicit summation. This pattern of results is consistent with the predictions of Pearce’s (1987) configural theory.
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Submitted date: August 2006
Published date: November 2007
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Local EPrints ID: 44796
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/44796
ISSN: 1747-0218
PURE UUID: 7a0c9429-5ef4-4a65-852a-f9d14e0a8ef3
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Date deposited: 16 Mar 2007
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:18
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