Open AccessIndicators of Early and Late Processing Reveal the Importance of Within-Trial-Time for Theories of Associative Learning
Author(s) -
Harald Lachnit,
Anna Thorwart,
Holger Schultheis,
Anja Lotz,
Stephan Koenig,
Metin Uengoer
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0066291
Subject(s) - stimulus (psychology) , associative property , associative learning , classical conditioning , cognitive psychology , psychology , information processing , neuroscience , cognitive science , artificial intelligence , computer science , conditioning , mathematics , statistics , pure mathematics
In four human learning experiments (Pavlovian skin conductance, causal learning, speeded classification task), we evaluated several associative learning theories that assume either an elemental (modified unique cue model and Harris’ model) or a configural (Pearce’s configural theory and an extension of it) form of stimulus processing. The experiments used two modified patterning problems (A/B/C+, AB/BC/AC+ vs. ABC-; A+, BC+ vs. ABC-). Pearce’s configural theory successfully predicted all of our data reflecting early stimulus processing, while the predictions of the elemental theories were in accord with all of our data reflecting later stages of stimulus processing. Our results suggest that the form of stimulus representation depends on the amount of time available for stimulus processing. Our findings highlight the necessity to investigate stimulus processing during conditioning on a finer time scale than usually done in contemporary research.