Blocking by fixed and variable stimuli: effects of stimulus distribution on blocking

Jennings, D�mhnall J.; Bonardi, Charlotte

Abstract

An experiment with rats compared the ability of fixed and variable duration cues to produce blocking. Rats in Group B (Blocking) were trained that both fixed- (F) and variable- (V) duration cues would be followed by food delivery. In a subsequent training stage F and V continued to be reinforced, but F was accompanied by X, and V by Y. In the test phase responding to X and Y was examined. Control Group O (Overshadowing) received identical treatment, except that F and V were nonreinforced in the first training stage. In Group B there was evidence for blocking, but only of X which had been conditioned in compound with the fixed-duration F; there was no evidence for blocking of Y, which had been conditioned in compound with the variable duration V. It is suggested that this result may occur because fixed cues reach a higher, more stable asymptote of associative strength than their variable equivalents.

Citation

Jennings, D. J., & Bonardi, C. (in press). Blocking by fixed and variable stimuli: effects of stimulus distribution on blocking. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2016.1216574

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 13, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 9, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 14, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 9, 2016
• Journal: Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology
• Print ISSN: 1747-0218
• Electronic ISSN: 1747-0226
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2016.1216574
• Keywords: Associative learning, Stimulus distribution form, Blocking, Timing, Rats
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/806130
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17470218.2016.1216574
• Additional Information: The Version of Record of this manuscript has been published; and is available in Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 9 August 2016 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17470218.2016.1216574
• Contract Date: Jul 14, 2016