Imitation of conditional discriminations in pigeons ( Columba livia).

Dorrance, Brigette R.; Zentall, Thomas R.

doi:10.1037/0735-7036.116.3.277

Cited by 17 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…However, this definition does not distinguish between performance (i.e., emitting previously learned re-pertoires) and acquiring new repertoires by observation. These and other distinctions have been suggested by several research findings (Dorrance & Zentall, 2002;Galef, 1988;Goldstein & Mousetis, 1989;Greer et al, 2006;McDonald, Dixon, & Leblanc, 1986;Zentall, 1996;Zentall, Sutton, & Sherburne, 1996).…”

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confidence: 62%

The Emergence of Conditioned Reinforcement From Observation

Greer

Singer-Dudek

2008

J Exper Analysis Behavior

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We report an experiment in which observations of peers by six 3-5-year-old participants under specific conditions functioned to convert a small plastic disc or, for one participant, a small piece of string, from a nonreinforcer to a reinforcer. Prior to the observational procedure, we compared each participant's responding on (a) previously acquired performance tasks in which the child received either a preferred food item or the disc (string) for correct responses, and (b) the acquisition of new repertoires in which the disc (string) was the consequence for correct responses. Verbal corrections followed incorrect responses in the latter tasks. The results showed that discs and strings did not reinforce correct responses in the performance tasks, but the food items did; nor did the discs and strings reinforce correct responses in learning new repertoires. We then introduced the peer observation condition in which participants engaged in a different performance task in the presence of a peer who also performed the task. A partition blocked the participants from seeing the peers' performance. However, participants could observe peers receiving discs or strings. Participants did not receive discs or strings regardless of their performance. Peer observation continued until the participants either requested discs or strings repeatedly, or attempted to take discs or strings from the peers. Following the peer observation condition, the same performance and acquisition tasks in which participants had engaged prior to observation were repeated. The results showed that the discs and strings now reinforced correct responding for both performance and acquisition for all participants. We discuss the results with reference to research involving nonhuman subjects that demonstrated the observational conditioning of reinforcers.

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mentioning

confidence: 62%

The Emergence of Conditioned Reinforcement From Observation

Greer

Singer-Dudek

2008

J Exper Analysis Behavior

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“…through signalling, or referential communication) are seemingly very infrequent [56]. Finally, while evidence for both contextual and production imitation has been reported in chimpanzees and some birds [57][58][59], comparative studies imply that imitation is quicker, more accurate and more complete in humans compared with other animals [60,61]. If it is indeed the case that other animals typically copy with low-fidelity, then the learning mechanisms that they deploy will not be capable of supporting cumulative culture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmission fidelity is the key to the build-up of cumulative culture

Lewis

Laland

2012

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

250

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Many animals have socially transmitted behavioural traditions, but human culture appears unique in that it is cumulative, i.e. human cultural traits increase in diversity and complexity over time. It is often suggested that high-fidelity cultural transmission is necessary for cumulative culture to occur through refinement, a process known as 'ratcheting', but this hypothesis has never been formally evaluated. We discuss processes of information transmission and loss of traits from a cognitive viewpoint alongside other cultural processes of novel invention (generation of entirely new traits), modification (refinement of existing traits) and combination (bringing together two established traits to generate a new trait). We develop a simple cultural transmission model that does not assume major evolutionary changes (e.g. in brain architecture) and show that small changes in the fidelity with which information is passed between individuals can lead to cumulative culture. In comparison, modification and combination have a lesser influence on, and novel invention appears unimportant to, the ratcheting process. Our findings support the idea that high-fidelity transmission is the key driver of human cumulative culture, and that progress in cumulative culture depends more on trait combination than novel invention or trait modification.

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“…When imitation has been demonstrated in human children and in chimpanzees, however, it often has involved the acquisition of a more complex response (Whiten & Custance, 1996). Although there are various approaches to studying the effects of observation of multiple responses, Dorrance and Zentall (2002) investigated the observation and later performance of a conditional discrimination. Given that pigeons appear to imitate treadle pecking and treadle stepping, Dorrance and Zentall (2002) asked whether pigeons' acquisition of a conditional discrimination involving both responses would be facilitated by the prior observation of a demonstrator performing the same conditionaldiscrimination (consistent group), as compared with a demonstrator performing a different (incompatible) conditional discrimination (inconsistent group).…”

Section: The Two-action Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although there are various approaches to studying the effects of observation of multiple responses, Dorrance and Zentall (2002) investigated the observation and later performance of a conditional discrimination. Given that pigeons appear to imitate treadle pecking and treadle stepping, Dorrance and Zentall (2002) asked whether pigeons' acquisition of a conditional discrimination involving both responses would be facilitated by the prior observation of a demonstrator performing the same conditionaldiscrimination (consistent group), as compared with a demonstrator performing a different (incompatible) conditional discrimination (inconsistent group). The conditional discriminations consisted of acquiring both treadle pecking and treadle stepping, conditional on the color of the houselight (green or white).…”

Section: The Two-action Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Action imitation in birds

Zentall

2004

Learning & Behavior

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Action imitation, once thought to be a behavior almost exclusively limited to humans and the great apes, surprisingly also has been found in a number of bird species. Because imitation has been viewed by some psychologists as a form of intelligent behavior, there has been interest in how it is distributed among animal species. Although the mechanisms responsible for action imitation are not clear, we are now at least beginning to understand the conditions under which it occurs. In this article, I try to identify and differentiate the various forms of socially influenced behavior (species-typical social reactions, social effects on motivation, social effects on perception, socially influenced learning, and action imitation) and explain why it is important to differentiate imitation from other forms of social influence. I also examine some of the variables that appear to be involved in the occurrence of imitation. Finally, I speculate about why a number of bird species, but few mammal species, appear to imitate.

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Imitation of conditional discriminations in pigeons ( Columba livia).

Cited by 17 publications

References 13 publications

The Emergence of Conditioned Reinforcement From Observation

The Emergence of Conditioned Reinforcement From Observation

Transmission fidelity is the key to the build-up of cumulative culture

Action imitation in birds

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