Abstract
Pigeons can learn structured sequences of cued responses and perform them quickly, even when random variability is later introduced into the originally learned sequence, making some cue locations unpredictable. In order to determine if initial learning shows the same tolerance of spatial variability as steady-state performance, naïve pigeons were trained on random distortions around a structured sequence without having seen the original sequence itself. Learning was possible, but accommodated less variability than did performance of the same sequence previously learned in an undistorted context. Analysis of results indicated that performance of a randomly distorted sequence is best when birds are initially trained with little or no variability, and randomness is later introduced in a gradual fashion.
Highlights
Pigeons can learn structured sequences of cued responses and perform them quickly, even when random variability is later introduced into the originally learned sequence, making some cue locations unpredictable
Investigations of procedural memory are often easier to implement within comparative psychology, as they commonly utilize objective, performance-based measures such as response times, without needing to rely on self-report
Herbranson, Loper, Wood, and Shimp (2004), for example, had pigeons peck lighted cues that appeared on 3 different response keys in perpetually repeating nine-element sequences such as L-C-R-L-R-C-R-L-C-. Their results mirrored those of a typical human Serial Response Time (SRT) experiment in that response times gradually became faster when cues appeared according to a repeating sequence, and slowed immediately when cues appeared in a random order
Summary
Pigeons can learn structured sequences of cued responses and perform them quickly, even when random variability is later introduced into the originally learned sequence, making some cue locations unpredictable. Froehlich, Herbranson, Loper, Wood, and Shimp (2004), for example, had pigeons peck lighted cues that appeared on 3 different response keys in perpetually repeating nine-element sequences such as L-C-R-L-R-C-R-L-C- (where L, C, and R indicate the left, center, and right keys respectively). Their results mirrored those of a typical human SRT experiment in that response times gradually became faster when cues appeared according to a repeating sequence, and slowed immediately when cues appeared in a random order.
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