Abstract

In Experiment 1, three pigeons were trained to peck whichever of eight keys displayed a white “x” on a red background (SD). The other seven keys displayed a white circle on a green background (SΔ). Each peck to SΔ produced a 3-sec access to grain, a 3-sec intertriai interval (ITI), and the next trial. Pecks to SA produced a 5-sec timeout (TO) and the same trial. During later sessions, the key displaying SD changed every t seconds (t = 3, 2, 1,.5,.25, and.025 sec), requiring the birds to track the position of the SD. Pecks on a ninth key increased t. In Experiment 2, the color and form elements of SD were presented separately and moved every t seconds towards merging on one key. The birds had to regulate the speed of movement then peck only keys with the compound SD present in order to produce reinforcers. Experiment 3 allowed the birds to eliminate S A stimuli by pecking the ninth key during each trial. Experiment 4 employed novel stimuli, to ascertain the controlling stimulus dimensions. The birds made few errors acquiring the original discrimination. Each bird reliably lengthened and shortened t, waited for the red and “x” to merge on one key, and eliminated SΔ stimuli. Data from sessions with novel stimuli indicate that color, form, and movement contributed to the final performance.

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