Abstract-concept learning carryover effects from the initial training set in pigeons (Columba livia).

Full Abstract

Three groups of pigeons were trained in a same/different task with 32, 64, or 1,024 color-picture stimuli. They were tested with novel transfer pictures. The training-testing cycle was repeated with training-set doublings. The 32-item group learned the same/different task as rapidly as a previous 8-item group and transferred better than the 8-item group at the 32-item training set. The 64- and 1,024-item groups learned the task only somewhat slower than other groups, but their transfer was better and equivalent to baseline performances. These results show that pigeons trained with small sets (e.g., 8 items) have carryover effects that hamper transfer when the training set is expanded. Without carryover effects (i.e., initial transfer from the 32- and 64-item groups), pigeons show the same degree of transfer as rhesus and capuchin monkeys at these same set sizes. This finding has implications for the general ability of abstract-concept learning across species with different neural architectures. Copyright 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Author information

Author/s: Nakamura, Tamo (T); Wright, Anthony A (AA); Katz, Jeffrey S (JS); Bodily, Kent D (KD); Sturz, Bradley R (BR);

Affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Grants: DA10715 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; MH-061798 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; MH-072616 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983) (J Comp Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Feb; vol 123 (issue 1) : pp 79-89

Dates: Created 2009/02/24; Completed 2009/05/11;

PMID: 19236147, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 5/11/2009, IMS Date: 11 May 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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