Abstract
Abstract: Three groups of male adult Japanese monkeys were trained in 30 discrimination‐reversal learning‐set (LS) problems using the Wisconsin General Test Apparatus. A control group (N = 3) was trained in the standard procedure: acquisition of up to 12 consecutive correct responses, reversal to the same criterion, and then shift to a new problem. To the other two groups, three information trials signaling the stimulus value in reversal were given after they reached the criterion in acquisition. Subjects in the positive‐stimulus information (PSI) group (N = 4) were exposed only to the reversal positive stimulus, and a response to it was rewarded. Subjects in the negative‐stimulus information (NSI) group (N = 4) were exposed only to the reversal negative stimulus, and any response to it was not rewarded. Information trials reduced reversal errors and NSI trials were more effective than PSI trials in error reduction (p < .05). Information trials also aided in acquisition: the NSI and PSI groups learned the acquisition phase of the problems with significantly fewer errors than control group (p < .01) in the last stage of training. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to strategy learning and attention learning in LS formation.
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