Asymmetry of training effects in nonspecific transfer of training

Abstract

Three groups of 16 pigeons each were given true discrimination (TD), nondifferential (ND), or single-stimulus (SS) training with line angles, and later were tested for the acquisition of a brightness discrimination. Half of the subjects were tested on the brightness problem immediately after line-angle training; the other half were tested with a wavelength discrimination problem first, then were returned to their original line-angle training regimen, and finally were tested on the brightness problem. Performance on the brightness problem was uninfluenced by experience with a prior wavelength problem. The TD subjects showed both more rapid acquisition and a higher level of asymptotic performance than the SS and ND groups, which did not differ. The TD facilitation effect was due to more rapid extinction of responding to S–. It was argued that failure to obtain an ND retardation effect may be due to the high degree of similarity between training stimuli used in Stage 1 and/or to a test bias against finding ND effects.