Abstract
Proactive inhibition in a pigeon was studied, using a modified delayed matching-to-sample task. Proactive inhibition was defined as disruption in matching performance produced by the presentation of a stimulus prior to the sample stimulus (relative to control trials without prior stimulus presentation). In Experiment I, with a prior stimulus which was not presented as one of the comparison stimuli, temporary disruption in matching performance was found with a 5-sec delay between sample and comparison stimuli but not with a 0-sec delay. In Experiment II, with a prior stimulus which was later presented as the incorrect comparison stimulus, long-lasting disruption was found with a 5-sec delay, but again not with a 0-sec delay. Experiment III demonstrated a direct relation between the magnitude of proactive inhibition and length of the delay. These results offer some support for an interference theory of forgetting, but also suggest that it may not be the identity of the two stimuli but, rather, the order of the two stimuli which is lost.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Gleitman, H. Forgetting of long-term memory in animals. In W. K. Honig and P. H. R. James (Eds.), Animal memory. New York: Academic Press, 1971.
Postman, L., & Underwood, B. J. Critical issues in interference theory. Memory & Cognition, 1973, 1, 19–40.
Spear, N. E. Forgetting as retrieval failure. In W. K. Honig and P. H. R. James (Eds.), Animal memory. New York: Academic Press, 1971.
Zentall, T. R. Effects of context change on forgetting in rats. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1970, 86, 440–448.
Zentall, T. R. Memory in the pigeon: Retroactive inhibition in a delayed matching task. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1973, 1, 126–128.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported in part by Biomedical Sciences Support Grant FR07084 from the National Institutes of Health to the University of Pittsburgh, and by National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH19757 to the first author. We thank Karen Compomizzi, Celeste Compomizzi, Nancy Threlfall, and Patricia Hughes for their assistance with experimental sessions.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zentall, T.R., Hogan, D.E. Memory in the pigeon: Proactive inhibition in a delayed matching task. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 4, 109–112 (1974). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334212
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334212