Context effect in a temporal bisection task with the choice keys available during the sample

Abstract

In a symbolic matching to sample task, six pigeons learned to associate different sample durations with different comparison stimuli. On "Short" trials, choice of Red and Green keylight comparisons were reinforced following 3-s and 9-s samples, respectively; on "Long" trials, Blue and Yellow keylight comparisons were reinforced following 9-s and 27-s samples, respectively. In contrast with previous studies, the comparison keys were available during the samples. After the temporal discriminations were learned, new pairs of comparison keys were presented and the preference for each was assessed during 27-s samples. One pair in particular, Green and Blue, was critical because it tested the predictions of two timing models, Scalar Expectancy Theory (SET) and the Learning-to-Time (LeT) model. The results showed that preference for Green increased during the sample, a result consistent with LeT but not with SET. Other test results, however, were predicted by neither model.