Integrality/separability of stimulus dimensions and multidimensional generalization in pigeons

Fabian A Soto; Edward A Wasserman

doi:10.1037/a0016560

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Integrality/separability of stimulus dimensions and multidimensional generalization in pigeons

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Integrality/separability of stimulus dimensions and multidimensional generalization in pigeons

Fabian A Soto and Edward A Wasserman

Journal of experimental psychology. Animal behavior processes, Vol.36(2), pp.194-205

04/2010

DOI: 10.1037/a0016560

PMCID: PMC2938027

PMID: 20384400

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Abstract

The authors present a quantitative framework for interpreting the results of multidimensional stimulus generalization experiments in animals using concepts derived from the geometrical approach to human cognition. The authors apply the model to the analysis of stimulus generalization data obtained from pigeons trained with different sets of stimuli varying along two orthogonal dimensions. Separable pigeons were trained with stimuli varying along the dimensions of circle size and line tilt, dimensions found to be separable in previous human research; integral pigeons were trained with stimuli varying along two dimensions of rotation in depth, dimensions that are intuitively integral and which hold special interest for theories of object recognition. The model accurately described the stimulus generalization data, with best fits to the City-Block metric for separable pigeons and to the euclidean metric for integral pigeons.

Predictive Value of Tests

Generalization (Psychology) - physiology

Reinforcement (Psychology)

Conditioning, Operant - physiology

Models, Psychological

Random Allocation

Reaction Time - physiology

Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology

Columbidae - physiology

Discrimination Learning - physiology

Space Perception - physiology

Animals

Photic Stimulation - methods

Discrimination (Psychology) - physiology

Depth Perception - physiology

Recognition (Psychology)

Details

Title: Subtitle: Integrality/separability of stimulus dimensions and multidimensional generalization in pigeons
Creators: Fabian A Soto - Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. fabian-soto@uiowa.edu
Edward A Wasserman
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of experimental psychology. Animal behavior processes, Vol.36(2), pp.194-205
DOI: 10.1037/a0016560
PMID: 20384400
PMCID: PMC2938027
NLM abbreviation: J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process
ISSN: 0097-7403
eISSN: 1939-2184
Publisher: American Psychological Association; United States
Grant note: R01 EY019781-18 / NEI NIH HHS\nMH47313 / NIMH NIH HHS\nR01 MH047313-17 / NIMH NIH HHS\nR01 MH047313 / NIMH NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 04/2010
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984070238702771

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