Abstract
Transitive inference (TI) is a classic learning paradigm for which the relative contributions of experienced rewards and representation-driven inference have been vigorously debated, particularly with regard to the notion that animals are capable of logic and reasoning. Rhesus macaque subjects and human participants performed a TI task in which, prior to learning a seven-item list ABCDEFG, a block of trials presented exclusively the pair FG. Contrary to the expectation of associative models, the high prior rate of reward for F did not disrupt learning of the entire list. Monkeys (who each completed many sessions) learned to anticipate that novel stimuli should be preferred over F. We interpret this as evidence of a task representation of TI that generalizes beyond learning about specific stimuli. Humans (who were task-naïve) showed a transitory bias to F when it was paired with novel stimuli, but very rapidly unlearned that bias. Performance with respect to the remaining stimuli was consistent with past reports of TI in both species. These results are difficult to reconcile with any account that seeks to assign the strength of association between individual stimuli and rewards. Instead, they support both sophisticated cognitive processes in both species, albeit with some species differences.
Highlights
Transitive inference (TI) is a fundamental process in propositional logic, and has been studied by psychologists for over a century (Burt, 1911)
Reinforcement-based theories critically depend on the history of experienced rewards, and seek to explain choices made by non-human animals in terms of associations between stimuli, actions, and outcomes
Even though we repeatedly presented FG trials in advance of ordinary TI learning in both rhesus monkeys and humans, we found no evidence of a bias for choosing F in subsequent phases of learning
Summary
Transitive inference (TI) is a fundamental process in propositional logic, and has been studied by psychologists for over a century (Burt, 1911). If A > B, and B > C, and all three items belong to an ordered list, the transitive property of the “>” operator permits the conclusion that A > C. The first animal study of TI was reported by McGonigle & Chalmers (1977). They presented squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) with adjacent pairs of stimuli from a five-item list (i.e. for a list of stimuli ABCDE, subjects were initially trained on AB, BC, CD, and DE). Once subjects reliably selected correct items, they were tested on all ten possible pairs. Despite having never seen the nonadjacent pairings previously, subjects selected the correct items with high accuracy, but did so at comparable rates to 4-year old human children
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