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Can existing associative principles explain occasion setting? Some old ideas and some new data

Bonardi, Charlotte; Robinson, Jasper; Jennings, D�mhnall

Can existing associative principles explain occasion setting? Some old ideas and some new data Thumbnail


Authors

D�mhnall Jennings



Abstract

Since occasion setting was identified as a type of learning independent of 'simple' associative processes, a great deal of research has explored how occasion setters are established and operate. Initial theories suggested that they exert hierarchical control over a target CS?US association, facilitating the ease with which a CS can activate the US representation and elicit the CR. Later approaches proposed that occasion setting arises from an association between a configural cue, formed from the conjunction of the occasion setter and CS, and the US. The former solution requires the associative principles dictating how stimuli interact to be modified, while the latter does not. The history of this theoretical distinction, and evidence relating to it, will be briefly reviewed and some novel data presented. In summary, although the contribution of configural processes to learning phenomena is not in doubt, configural theories must make many assumptions to accommodate the existing data, and there are certain classes of evidence that they are logically unable to explain. Our contention is therefore that some kind of hierarchical process is required to explain occasion-setting effects.

Citation

Bonardi, C., Robinson, J., & Jennings, D. (2017). Can existing associative principles explain occasion setting? Some old ideas and some new data. Behavioural Processes, 137, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2016.07.007

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 12, 2016
Online Publication Date Jul 15, 2016
Publication Date Apr 1, 2017
Deposit Date Jul 14, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Behavioural Processes
Print ISSN 0376-6357
Electronic ISSN 1872-8308
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 137
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2016.07.007
Keywords Occasion setting; hierarchical theory; configural theory; learning
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/853602
Publisher URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376635716301607

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