scholarly journals Response-independent outcome presentations weakens the instrumental response-outcome association

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byron Crimmins ◽  
Molly McNulty ◽  
Vincent Laurent ◽  
Genevra Hart ◽  
Bernard Balleine
Keyword(s):  
Instrumental Response ◽  
Relative Influence ◽  
Selective Degradation ◽  
Outcome Devaluation

The present paper explored the fate of previously formed response-outcome associations when the relation between R and O was disrupted by arranging for O to occur independently of R. In each of three experiments response independent outcome delivery selectively reduced the R earning that O. Nevertheless, in Experiments 1 and 2, the R continued to show sensitivity to outcome devaluation, suggesting that the strength of the R-O association was undiminished by this treatment. These experiments used a two-lever, two-outcome design introducing the possibility that devaluation reflected the influence of specific Pavlovian lever-outcome associations. In an attempt to nullify these incidental Pavlovian cues, Experiment 3 used a single bidirectional vertical lever that rats could press left or right for different outcomes. Again, response-independent outcome presentation selectively depressed the performance of the R that delivered the response-independent O. However, in this situation, the response independent O also reduced the sensitivity of R to outcome devaluation; whereas the non-degraded R was sensitive to devaluation, the degraded R was not. We conclude that selective degradation of the instrumental contingency can weaken a specific R-O association while leaving other R-O associations intact. Furthermore, the use of a bidirectional vertical lever in Experiment 3 revealed that instrumental manipulanda, such as levers or chains, produce Pavlovian cues capable of forming incidental associations with the instrumental outcome, obscuring the relative influence of R-O associations after various manipulations.

scholarly journals Automaticity and cognitive control: Effects of cognitive load on cue-controlled reward choice

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 1507-1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Seabrooke ◽  
Andy J Wills ◽  
Lee Hogarth ◽  
Chris J Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Transfer Test ◽  
Priming Effect ◽  
Instrumental Response ◽  
Load Condition ◽  
Neutral Stimulus ◽  
Priming Effects ◽  
Response Choice ◽  
Outcome Devaluation

The extent to which human outcome–response (O-R) priming effects are automatic or under cognitive control is currently unclear. Two experiments tested the effect of cognitive load on O-R priming to shed further light on the debate. In Experiment 1, two instrumental responses earned beer and chocolate points in an instrumental training phase. Instrumental response choice was then tested in the presence of beer, chocolate, and neutral stimuli. On test, a Reversal instruction group was told that the stimuli signalled which response would not be rewarded. The transfer test was also conducted under either minimal (No Load) or considerable (Load) cognitive load. The Non-Reversal groups showed O-R priming effects, where the reward cues increased the instrumental responses that had previously produced those outcomes, relative to the neutral stimulus. This effect was observed even under cognitive load. The Reversal No Load group demonstrated a reversed effect, where response choice was biased towards the response that was most likely to be rewarded according to the instruction. Most importantly, response choice was at chance in the Reversal Load condition. In Experiment 2, cognitive load abolished the sensitivity to outcome devaluation that was otherwise seen when multiple outcomes and responses were cued on test. Collectively, the results demonstrate that complex O-R priming effects are sensitive to cognitive load, whereas the very simple, standard O-R priming effect is more robust.

Selective Degradation of Grindelic Acid and Its 3α-Hydroxy Analog: Facile Synthesis of Grindelistrictic Acids and Potential Intermediates for Erigerol

Synlett ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 (09) ◽  
pp. 725-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Shimizu ◽  
Sayoko Hiranuma ◽  
Zhao-hui Qian ◽  
Hirosuke Yoshioka
Keyword(s):  
Facile Synthesis ◽  
Selective Degradation

Michael’s Clan

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosanna Hertz ◽  
Margaret K. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Support ◽  
Relative Influence ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Sperm Donor ◽  
Material Support ◽  
Same Sex Couples ◽  
Family Form ◽  
New Family ◽  
Nature And Nurture ◽  
Families Of Choice

The same-sex couples highlighted in this narrative are members of the “families of choice” cohorts that arose during the 1980s. Although they were establishing a new family form, the mothers in a two-mother family told their child that he had a sperm donor “father” whom he could meet when he turned eighteen. When the meeting occurred, the two formed a limited father-child bond. The donor provides emotional support, but he does not offer any material support. When other offspring from the same donor contact him, the donor introduced the donor siblings to each other. The members of this network reconsider ideas about the relative influence of nature and nurture. Yet ideas about chosen families remain central to the manner in which the members relate to one another. Born between 1986 and 1990, the kids in this network were between twenty-four and twenty-eight years old at the time of the interviews.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document