Equivalence relations do exist before they are tested: Confirmatory evidence revealed by EEG measurements

Abstract

We examined equivalence‐based N400 effects by comparing EEG data from participants with different experiences with equivalence testing. Before a priming task used in EEG measurement, Group 1 was given only matching‐to‐sample training trials whereas Group 2 was exposed to matching‐to‐sample training and equivalence probe trials. We asked whether exposure to the reinforcement contingency was sufficient to bring about an N400 outcome that might indicate potentially emergent equivalence relations or if such a response depended on experience with equivalence tests. Results showed robust N400 in both groups. Experience with equivalence tests did not further increase the N400 effects. Our findings add confirmatory evidence that equivalence relations may originate via the reinforcement contingency alone. Furthermore, complementary EEG data collected from priming tasks involving words from natural language showed functional overlap between laboratory‐defined equivalence and natural word‐based N400 effects.

Utilizando o IRAP para medir a transformação de função de estímulos relacionados a expressões faciais de medo ou de alegria: uma replicação sistemática

“…Estudos anteriores já haviam documentado a transformação de função na ausência de testes de equivalência (e.g., Hayes et al, 1991;Wulfert & Hayes 1988), sugerindo, justamente, que a transformação de função pode ocorrer independentemente do nível de derivação. Além disso, os resultados aqui encontrados são convergentes com um estudo recente, que utilizou medidas da atividade neural para detectar "potenciais para emergência" sem a necessidade de exposição aos testes de equivalência (Silveira et al, 2021).…”