Responding in Configural Discrimination Problems Depends on Density of Reinforcement in Time

2007 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Lachnit ◽  
Ira Ludwig ◽  
Günter Reinhard
Keyword(s):  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Intertrial Interval ◽  
Stimulus Frequency ◽  
Reinforcement Density ◽  
Negative Patterning ◽  
Response Differentiation ◽  
Conditioned Responding ◽  
Positive Patterning ◽  
Skin Conductance Conditioning

Abstract. Previous research has shown that conditioned responding in differential skin conductance conditioning increased for reinforced stimuli (CSs+) but remained constant for nonreinforced stimuli (CSs-) due to decreasing reinforcement density. The present two experiments (Experiment 1: Negative patterning; Experiment 2: Positive patterning) were designed to disentangle a possible confound of reinforcement density with stimulus frequency. In order to achieve this, we varied the intertrial interval (18 s, 24 s, or 48 s) and held constant the numbers of CSs+ and of CSs- in each of both discrimination problems. With increasing intertrial intervals, we found higher responding both to CSs+ and to CSs- as well as increased response differentiation. We discuss these results with respect to two mechanisms offered by Wagner's SOP model and conclude that the observed effects are due to variations in density of reinforcement in time.

The Effects of using Stimuli from Three Different Dimensions on Autoshaping with a Complex Negative Patterning Discrimination

2002 ◽  
Vol 55 (4b) ◽  
pp. 349-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Pearce ◽  
David N. George
Keyword(s):  
One Dimension ◽  
Negative Patterning ◽  
Configural Theory ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Third Dimension ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Positive Patterning

In two experiments pigeons received a complex negative patterning discrimination, using autoshaping, in which food was made available after three stimuli if they were presented alone (A, B, C), or in pairs (AB, AC, BC), but not when they were all presented together (ABC). Subjects also received a positive patterning discrimination in which three additional stimuli were not followed by food when presented alone (D, E, F), or in pairs (DE, DF, EF), but they were followed by food when presented together (DEF). Stimuli A and D belonged to one dimension, B and E to a second dimension, and D and F to a third dimension. For both problems, the discrimination between the individual stimuli and the triple-element compounds developed more readily than that between the pairs of stimuli and the triple-element compound. The results are consistent with predictions that can be derived from a configural theory of conditioning.

scholarly journals Microscale Patterning of Electrochromic Polymer Films via Soft Lithography

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jae-Yeong Jung ◽  
Seokwon Joo ◽  
Da-Seul Kim ◽  
Kyoung-Hwan Kim ◽  
Tae Soup Shim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Direct Contact ◽  
Fabrication Technique ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Contact Printing ◽  
Negative Patterning ◽  
Direct Fabrication ◽  
Electrochromic Polymer ◽  
Positive Patterning

We present a direct fabrication technique of patterned polymeric electrochromic (EC) devices via soft lithography, enabling both negative patterning and positive patterning of the polymer. For this work, elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds were employed as not only stamps for direct contact printing of polymer inks but also templates for dewetting of polymer solutions under mild experimental conditions. We performed both negative patterning and positive patterning of a prototypical EC polymer and investigated the EC device characteristics according to solvents, solution concentrations, and pattern types. Eventually, the complex patterns, which cannot be realized by conventional shadow masking processes, and large-area structures were successfully demonstrated. We anticipate that these results will be applied to the development of various patterned devices and circuits, which may lead to further applications.

The impact of reinforcement density on response differentiation in configural discrimination problems

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 650-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Lachnit ◽  
Klaus Lober ◽  
Gunter Reinhard ◽  
Martin Giurfa
Keyword(s):  
Reinforcement Density ◽  
Response Differentiation ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Logical problems with Prokasy’s assessment of contingency relations in classical skin conductance conditioning

1975 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 521-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Furedy ◽  
Constantine X. Poulos ◽  
Karl Schlffman
Keyword(s):  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Skin Conductance Conditioning

Positive and negative patterning in human causal learning

2000 ◽  
Vol 53 (2b) ◽  
pp. 121-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. Young ◽  
Edward A. Wasserman ◽  
Janelle L. Johnson ◽  
Farrasha L. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Causal Learning ◽  
Negative Patterning ◽  
Exemplar Models ◽  
Learning Tasks ◽  
Human Causal Learning ◽  
Nonhuman Animals ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Human Participants ◽  
Compound Cue ◽  
Positive Patterning

Investigations of patterning discriminations by nonhuman animals have generally found that positive patterning is easier to learn than negative patterning. Studies of patterning discriminations in human causal learning tasks have failed to document any differences between positive and negative patterning. In the present study, human participants predicted an outcome on trials involving either a compound cue or its elements. Positive and negative patterning problems were successfully solved in a within-subjects design; negative patterning problems proved to be more difficult when an additional, 50% contingent cue was included (Experiment 2), but not when it was excluded (Experiment 1). Possible reasons for these results are discussed. The discussion concludes with an analysis of exemplar models (e.g., Pearce, 1994) of human causal learning and considers the conditions under which these models do and do not anticipate our results.

scholarly journals Knowledge is power: Contingency instruction promotes threat extinction in high intolerance of uncertainty individuals

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayne Morriss ◽  
Carien M. van Reekum
Keyword(s):  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽  
Partial Reinforcement ◽  
Central Feature ◽  
Skin Conductance Responses ◽  
Conditioned Responding ◽  
Pathological Anxiety

AbstractExtinction-resistant threat is considered to be a central feature of pathological anxiety. Reduced threat extinction is observed in individuals with high intolerance of uncertainty (IU). Here we sought to determine whether contingency instructions could alter the course threat extinction for individuals high in IU. We tested this hypothesis in two identical experiments (Exp 1 n = 60, Exp 2 n = 82) where we recorded electrodermal activity during threat acquisition with partial reinforcement, and extinction. Participants were split into groups based on extinction instructions (instructed, uninstructed) and IU score (low, high). All groups displayed larger skin conductance responses to learned threat versus safety cues during threat acquisition, indicative of threat conditioning. In both experiments, only the uninstructed high IU groups displayed larger skin conductance responses to the learned threat versus safety cue during threat extinction. These findings suggest that uncertain threat during extinction maintains conditioned responding in individuals high in IU.

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