Barnes-Holmes, D., Regan, D., Barnes-Holmes, Y., Commins, S., Walsh, D.,
Stewart, I., Smeets, P. M., Whelan, R., & Dymond, S. (2005).
Relating derived relations as a model of analogical reasoning: Reaction times
and event-related potentials.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 84, 435-
451.
The current study aimed to test a Relational Frame Theory (RFT) model of
analogical reasoning based on the relating of derived same and derived
difference relations. Experiment 1 recorded reaction time measures of similar–
similar (e.g., “apple is to orange as dog is to cat”) versus different–different
(e.g., “he is to his brother as chalk is to cheese”) derived relational
responding, in both speed-contingent and speed-noncontingent conditions.
Experiment 2 examined the event-related potentials (ERPs) associated with these
two response patterns. Both experiments showed similar–similar responding to be
significantly faster than different–different responding. Experiment 2 revealed
significant differences between the waveforms of the two response patterns in
the left-hemispheric prefrontal regions; different–different waveforms were
significantly more negative than similar–similar waveforms. The behavioral and
neurophysiological data support the RFT prediction that, all things being equal,
similar–similar responding is relationally “simpler” than, and functionally
distinct from, different–different analogical responding. The ERP data were
fully consistent with findings in the neurocognitive literature on analogy.
These findings strengthen the validity of the RFT model of analogical reasoning
and supplement the behavior-analytic approach to analogy based on the relating
of derived relations.
Key words: relating relations, analogy, reasoning, derived relations,
humans