Individual differences could explain the failure in transitive inference formation in pigeons using probabilistic reinforcement

• Published in: Frontiers in psychology 2023-01, Vol.13, p.1033583-1033583
• Main Authors: Camarena, Héctor Octavio, García-Leal, Oscar, Saldaña-Hernández, Zayra, Barrón, Erick
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Pavlovian mechanisms; probabilistic reinforcement; Psychology; reasoning process; task complexity; transitive inference
• ISSN: 1664-1078; 1664-1078
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1033583

In propositional logic, it is stated that "for if A is predicated for every B, and B for every C, A must necessarily be predicated of every C". Following a similar logical process, it can be said that If A > B and B > C, then A > C, this is called transitive inference (TI). Piaget developed a verbal task to evaluate TI in children. Subsequent studies adapted this task for animals using a conditioned discrimination between five-terms sequence of stimuli A + B-, B + C-, C + D-, and D + E-. If subjects prefer B over D during test, it is assumed that TI has occurred. In this experiment, we analyzed the effects of task complexity on TI by using a five-terms sequence of stimuli associated with probabilistic outcomes during training, in pigeons. Thus, both stimuli are reinforced in each pair but with different probability, 0.8 for + stimulus and 0.2 for the-stimulus. We found that performance during C + D- pair is impaired and preference in the test pair BD is affected. However, this impairment is dependent on individual differences in performance in C + D- pair. We compare our findings with previous research and conclude that Pavlovian mechanisms, as well as ordering of stimuli, can account for our findings.