Abstract
Using a discrimination box, male rats were trained to criterion or overtrained on a visual discrimination. Then a transfer test was given in which either S+ or S— was retained, and the other was replaced with a new stimulus. Next, the subjects were trained on the reversed discrimination. Tests were then given with either the reversed S+ or S— retained and the other replaced. In all tests, fewer errors were found when S— was retained than when S+ was retained. Other animals were tested after training to a precriterial level in a second experiment with similar results.
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This research was supported by NSF/URP Grant GY-2698 and NSF Biomedical Grant FR07045-02. The results of Experiment I were reported at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association. The technical assistance of L. J. Schofield, Jr., and K. Gans is gratefully acknowledged.
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Stevens, D.A., Wixon, D.R. Assessment of relative importance of S + and S − after various stages of training. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 5, 462–464 (1975). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333300
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333300