Local proactive interference in delayed matching to sample: the role of reinforcement

K Geoffrey White; Amy E Parkinson; Glenn S Brown; John T Wixted

doi:10.1037/0097-7403.30.2.83

Local proactive interference in delayed matching to sample: the role of reinforcement

J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process. 2004 Apr;30(2):83-95. doi: 10.1037/0097-7403.30.2.83.

Authors

K Geoffrey White¹, Amy E Parkinson, Glenn S Brown, John T Wixted

Affiliation

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. kgwhite@otago.ac.nz

PMID: 15078118
DOI: 10.1037/0097-7403.30.2.83

Abstract

Discriminability in delayed matching to sample was lower when the samples on consecutive trials differed compared with when samples on consecutive trials were the same. This local proactive interference occurred when correct choices on the previous trial were reinforced but not when correct choices on the previous trial were not reinforced. When the choice on the previous trial was incorrect, discriminability was higher on different consecutive trials than on same trials. These effects were amplified by varying the ratio of reinforcers for correct choices, as predicted by a model that attributes local proactive interference to an interaction between control by the sample on the current trial and the influence of reinforcers for correct choices on previous trials.

MeSH terms

Animals
Association Learning*
Attention
Columbidae
Discrimination Learning*
Models, Psychological
Pattern Recognition, Visual*
Practice, Psychological
Proactive Inhibition*
Reinforcement, Psychology*
Time Factors