Abstraction of temporal attributes.

Abstract

Abstraction of Temporal Attributes Warren H. Meek and Russell M. ChurchBrown University Cross-modal transfer of classification rules for temporal intervals was demon-strated in four experiments. In Experiment 1, rats learned a temporal discrim-ination between a 2-sec and an 8-sec signal in one modality (vision or audition).There was positive transfer to a temporal discrimination between a 2-sec andan 8-sec signal in the other modality when the response rule was maintained,and negative transfer when the response rule was reversed. Experiment 2 dem-onstrated positive cross-modal transfer in a temporal generalization procedure.Experiment 3 demonstrated cross-modal transfer of both duration arid temporallocation in a procedure in which rats were exposed to three successive signaldurations. Experiment 4 demonstrated cross-modal transfer of both duration andtemporal order in a procedure in which rats were exposed to simultaneouslypresented signal durations, one auditory and one visual. The conclusion is thatrats can abstract temporal attributes from modality-specific aspects of a signal.