Training Procedures and Task Difficulty in Brightness and Position Discriminations by Rats

Abstract

This research concerned training procedures (correction vs noncorrecdon), type of discrimination task (position vs brightness), and task difficulty in two 2 x 3 experiments using rats in single-unit mazes. An interaction was found berween type of uaining procedure and task difficulry for the brightness task, with noncorrection Ss requiring relatively fewer trials to reach a criterion than correction Ss as the task became more difficult. A scatistically insignificant interaaion was found for the posiaon task.

Color vision in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

“…This procedure was used rather than the correction procedure of Bacon and Burghardt (1976), because noncorrection discrimination often allows for faster acquisition (Allison, 1972;Towart & Smith, 1966). At the beginning of each trial, the subject was required to touch its nose to a wooden rectangle (20 12.5 cm) designated as a remote target when the verbal command "remote" was given.…”

“…Testing was a noncorrection simultaneous discrimination, wherein the subject was required to select the correct stimulus on the first response to receive reinforcement (see, e.g., Allison, 1972;Towart & Smith, 1966). This procedure was used rather than the correction procedure of Bacon and Burghardt (1976), because noncorrection discrimination often allows for faster acquisition (Allison, 1972;Towart & Smith, 1966).…”