Impact of Equivalence Class Training on Same/Different Learning by Pigeons

• Published in: Journal of experimental psychology. Animal learning and cognition 2024-10, Vol.50 (4), p.247-253
• Main Authors: Cook, Robert G., Blaisdell, Aaron P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal; Animal Learning; Animals; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Columbidae - physiology; Concept Formation; Concept Formation - physiology; Discrimination Learning - physiology; Male; Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology; Pigeons; Training
• ISSN: 2329-8456; 2329-8464; 2329-8464
• DOI: 10.1037/xan0000379

Separating and isolating the contributions of perception to concept formation in animals has been a long-standing and persistent challenge. Here we describe a novel approach to assessing this question by using equivalence training consisting of unrelated images as the basis for subsequent same/different (S/D) learning. Following equivalence class training, two groups of pigeons attempted to learn a go/no-go discrimination task constructed from these classes. In the go/no-go task, a consistent group was given an S/D assignment that aligned with this prior training (same vs. different classes). An inconsistent group was given go/no-go assignments that were misaligned with their established classes. The consistent group exhibited better learning and stimulus control in their S/D task than did the inconsistent group. These results suggest that pigeons can use trained properties derived from class-based information to learn an S/D task without the aid of perceptual similarity. This novel approach holds promise for helping to evaluate the contribution of perceptual similarity to different types of concept learning.