Urcuioli, P. J., & DeMarse, T. B. (1997).
Memory processes in delayed spatial discriminations: Response intentions or response mediation?
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
67, 323-336.
Pigeons were trained on a pair-comparison task in which left
versus right choices were reinforced following different
sequences of two center-key stimuli. Choice accuracy was higher
when retention intervals occurred after the entire sequence than
when they separated the two stimuli comprising it, and this
effect occurred independently of whether the initial and terminal
stimuli came from the same or different dimensions. The initial
stimulus from the prior trial was a source of proactive
interference only in groups for which the retention interval
separated the two sequence stimuli. By contrast, differential
delay-interval behavior was observed only in groups for which the
retention interval followed presentation of the entire sequence.
These results indicate that coding processes in delayed
discriminations are influenced by the location of the retention
interval, and that response mediation affects retention
performances if the reinforced choice can be determined prior to
the interval.
Key words: response mediation, prospective coding, delayed discrimination,
working memory, proactive interference, key peck, pigeons