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Occasion setting of timing behaviour

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Domhnall Jennings

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Abstract

Rats were trained on a temporal switching discrimination, with 2 features, A and B, signaling 2 target conditioned stimuli, x and y; feature offset and target onset were separated by a 5-s feature-target interval, and all target stimulus presentations terminated in a food pellet. The target conditioned stimuli were either short or long (6 or 30 s): Specifically, when signaled by A, x was 6 s and y 30 s, but when x and y were signaled by B, x was 30 s and y 6 s. Trials with 6-s and 30-s targets were termed short and long trials, respectively. Probe tests indicated that the animals correctly anticipated when food was to be delivered on these 2 types of trials. In further testing, the interval between feature offset and target onset was lengthened, to investigate the precise mechanism underlying this behavior. This manipulation did not have a substantial effect on discrimination performance. These results are discussed with reference to theories of occasion setting, timing, and configural learning.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Bonardi C, Jennings DJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes

Year: 2007

Volume: 33

Issue: 3

Pages: 339-348

ISSN (print): 0097-7403

ISSN (electronic): 1939-2184

Publisher: American Psychological Association

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0097-7403.33.3.339

DOI: 10.1037/0097-7403.33.3.339


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