There are many spatial and configural factors in discrimination learning situations which have not been investigated, despite the possibility that knowledge of their effects would be of value in understanding discrimination learning and reversal phenomena. One such variable is the position or angle of the maze arms relative to the choice point in brightness discri~nination situations where chis factor is to the learning of the problem. In the typical brightness discrimination problem the brightness cues are changed from position to position, appearing in each position equally often. Thus position, say right-left, is an cue in the sense that neither right nor left receives differential reinforcement. The spatial arrangement of these irrelevant position cues, and the corresponding position responses forced on the animal in the course of responding to brightness cues, might affect learning because of ac least two factors: ( 1 ) the effect of maze arm angle on the time S spends at the choice point, and (2) the effect of the size of maze arm angle upon the intensity of the proprioceptor cues involved in responding to the irrelevant spatial dimension. Estes and Lauer (1957) have suggested that discrimination learning in rats may be enhanced by choice point delay. This was based on their finding that improvement in reversal learning was dependent upon massed trials. They hypothesized that Ss learned to slow down at the choice point on the basis of stimulation from the previous non-reinforced trial, and that chis resulted in a longer exposure to choice-point cues. In the present situation a large maze arm angle might be expected to produce more delay or hesitation than a small maze arm angle because of the relative sharpness of the turn required of S. While the source of delay and many procedural features are undoubtedly important in considering any possible delay effect, one might still expect delay caused by maze arm angle to have a facilitating function in the manner discussed by Estes and Lauer. The effect of the size of the maze arm angle upon the intensity of the proprioceptor cues involved in responding to the irrelevant spatial dimension should also play a role in the rate of discrimination learning and reversal. It is known that position habits tend to develop in rhe presolution period of a 'Supported in part by the Research Committee of the Graduate School from funds supplied by rhe Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.
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Open Access
Jan 1, 1966
Peter D Eimas + 1
