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Representation and retention of two-event sequences in pigeons
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Representation and retention of two-event sequences in pigeons

R. G Weisman, E. A Wasserman, P. W Dodd and Mark B Larew
Journal of experimental psychology. Animal behavior processes, Vol.6(4), pp.312-325
10/1980
DOI: 10.1037/0097-7403.6.4.312

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Abstract

In 3 experiments with a total of 8 Silver King, 6 White Carneaux, and 6 domestic adult pigeons, 2-event sequences were presented as discriminative stimuli for keypecking during a later test period. The purpose was to evaluate the stimulus control exerted by saliency, primacy, recency, and temporal order in discriminations among 2-event sequences. In Exps I and II, reinforcement for responding to the test stimulus depended on the prior occurrence of only 1 of several sequences of colored lights. In Exp III, reinforcement depended both on the sequence of colors and on the particular test stimulus that followed. Two phases in S's differentiation of 2-event sequences were tentatively identified. Control by recency was stronger than by primacy during the 1st phase. Control by order increased and control by recency decreased during the 2nd phase. Results indicate that pigeons can represent and remember the order of a recent series of events. (30 ref)

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