Matching-to-sample in pigeons: In the absence of sample memory, sample frequency is a better predictor of comparison choice than the probability of reinforcement for comparison choice

DiGian, Kelly A.; Zentall, Thomas R.

doi:10.3758/bf03206430

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…That is, they showed clear evidence of base-rate neglect. Similar findings were reported by Zentall and Clement (2002) and DiGian and Zentall (2007) using somewhat different designs. Thus, in these experiments, the pigeons were unduly influenced by the frequency with which they had responded to the two comparison stimuli (the equivalent of the accuracy of the flu test in the human example).…”

Section: Base-rate Neglectsupporting

confidence: 89%

Macphail (1987) Revisited: Pigeons Have Much Cognitive Behavior in Common With Humans

Zentall

2021

Front. Psychol.

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The hypothesis proposed by Macphail (1987) is that differences in intelligent behavior thought to distinguish different species were likely attributed to differences in the context of the tasks being used. Once one corrects for differences in sensory input, motor output, and incentive, it is likely that all vertebrate animals have comparable intellectual abilities. In the present article I suggest a number of tests of this hypothesis with pigeons. In each case, the evidence suggests that either there is evidence for the cognitive behavior, or the pigeons suffer from biases similar to those of humans. Thus, Macphail’s hypothesis offers a challenge to researchers to find the appropriate conditions to bring out in the animal the cognitive ability being tested.

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Section: Base-rate Neglectsupporting

confidence: 89%

Macphail (1987) Revisited: Pigeons Have Much Cognitive Behavior in Common With Humans

Zentall

2021

Front. Psychol.

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“…By doing so, they neglect the base rate with which choice of the comparison colors is reinforced. Interestingly, when pigeons are given the same task, they show better sensitivity to the base rates and get more correct than humans do (Fantino, Kanevsky, & Charlton, 2005); however, if pigeons are given extensive training on matching to sample with 100% reinforcement for matching and then are transferred to the task in which choice of one of the comparisons is reinforced most of the time, they, too, show evidence of base-rate neglect (see also DiGian & Zentall, 2007;Zentall & Clement, 2002;Zentall, Singer, & Miller, 2008). Thus, extensive experience with a task in which a stimulus (in this case, the sample) provides a highly reliable cue for correct comparison choice biases, pigeons tend to neglect the fact that the stimulus is no longer a reliable cue, resulting in suboptimal choice by the pigeons.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Monty Hall dilemma with pigeons: No, you choose for me

2015

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In the Monty Hall dilemma, humans are initially given a choice among three alternatives, one of which has a hidden prize. After they have chosen, but before revealing whether they have won the prize, subjects are shown that one of the remaining alternatives does not have the prize, and they are asked whether they want to stay with their original choice or switch to the remaining alternative. Switching results in obtaining the prize two thirds of the time, but even after considerable training, humans fail to consistently adopt the optimal strategy of switching. Pigeons, however, show closer-to-optimal switching performance with this task. One of the reasons that humans choose suboptimally is their mistaken assumption that with two alternatives, the probabilities of winning the prize are the same for staying and switching, and staying may be preferred because of a sense of endowment (ownership of the initial response). When we tried to produce an endowment effect in pigeons by requiring 20 pecks (rather than one peck) for the initial choice, it actually resulted in faster acquisition of the switching response. In the present research with pigeons, we examined the finding from human research that subjects are more likely to switch if they are not responsible for making the initial choice (another approach to the endowment effect). Inconsistent with the findings with humans, we found that when the initial choice was made for the pigeons, they actually showed less of a tendency to switch than did pigeons that made the initial choice themselves.

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“…They were also trained to choose the vertical comparison when the sample was red and the horizontal comparison when the sample was white Base-Rate Neglect, Fig. 2 Design of DiGian and Zentall (2007). Pigeons were trained to choose the red comparisons when the sample was red and the green comparison when the sample was green.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another approach to base-rate neglect was used by DiGian and Zentall (2007). In that study, the bias was induced by presenting one sample on 80% of the trials, but correct choice of the associated comparison was reinforced only 25% of the time (see Fig.…”

Section: Base-rate Neglect In Pigeonsmentioning

confidence: 99%