Document Detail


Matching- and nonmatching-to-sample concept learning in rats using olfactory stimuli.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21909161     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Previous research has shown that rats can learn matching-to-sample relations with olfactory stimuli; however, the specific characteristics of this relational control are unclear. In Experiment 1, 6 rats were trained to either match or nonmatch to sample in a modified operant chamber using common household spices as olfactory stimuli. After matching or nonmatching training with 10 exemplars, the contingencies were reversed with five new stimuli such that subjects trained on matching were shifted to nonmatching and vice versa. Following these reversed contingencies, the effects of the original training persisted for many trials with new exemplars. In Experiment 2, 9 rats were trained with matching procedures in an arena that provided for 18 different spatial locations for comparison stimuli. Five subjects were trained with differential reinforcement outcomes and 4 with only one type of reinforcer. Differential outcomes and multiple exemplars facilitated learning, and there was strong evidence for generalization to new stimuli for most rats that acquired several conditional discriminations. Performances with novel samples were generally above chance, but rarely reached the high levels obtained during baseline with well-trained stimulus relations. However, taken together, the data from the two experiments extend previous work, show that rats can learn both match and nonmatch relations with different experimental protocols, and demonstrate generalization to novel sample stimuli.
Authors:
L Brooke April; Katherine Bruce; Mark Galizio
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior     Volume:  96     ISSN:  1938-3711     ISO Abbreviation:  J Exp Anal Behav     Publication Date:  2011 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-09-12     Completed Date:  2012-01-27     Revised Date:  2012-04-02    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0203727     Medline TA:  J Exp Anal Behav     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  139-54     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina Wilmington, NC 28403, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Association Learning*
Concept Formation*
Conditioning, Classical
Discrimination Learning*
Generalization, Stimulus*
Male
Odors*
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Reversal Learning

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Gold(I)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Intramolecular Hydroamination of Allenes with Ureas.
Next Document:  Adaptive criterion setting in perceptual decision making.