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Trials
Stimulus Control
Stimulus Discrimination
Definition: Degree to which antecedent stimuli set
the occasion for particular responses
precise degree of stimulus control
E.g., Man has beard and is Daddy; Man has beard and
is Uncle Eddie
Response: Reinforcer:
red Super! You
said red!
S:
No praise
Whats your
name?
Differential Responding
When a childs behavior comes under the control
of the SD,
We say the SD has acquired stimulus control over the
childs behavior
So the verbal stimulus Whats your favorite color?
gains stimulus control over the response red why?
And the child is discriminating or responding
differentially
Stimulus Generalization
When a response is reinforced in the
presence of one stimulus,
Students
Students less most likely Students less
likely to say to say likely to say
green green green
(discriminatio (discrimination)
n)
Stimulus Generalization
Stimulus Generalization is more likely
when:
Stimuli that are highly similar to the original
stimulus are presented.
E.g., similar people, materials, or settings
The more similar the novel person, materials,
and setting are to the training person, materials,
and setting
Discrimination vs.
Generalization
Essentially opposite processes
As discrimination increases, generalization decreases
As discrimination decreases, generalization increases
Discrimination
Responding differently to 2 or more stimuli
Tight degree of stimulus control
Generalization
Responding similarly to 2 or more stimuli
Loose degree of stimulus control
Stimulus Discrimination and Stimulus
Generalization are a Continuum
Stimulus Stimulus
Discrimination Generalization
350
pigeons reinforced for pecking a
580 nm lit key (orange-yellow)
300 (S+) on a VI schedule
250
Responses
0
51
53
55
57
59
61
63
Wavelength (nanometers)
Interpreting Generalization Gradients
Pigeons trained to
peck a moderately
bright light (S+) to get
food.
After asymptote is
reached, present
occasional non-
reinforced probe trials
at various wavelengths
or levels of brightness.
Excitatory and
inhibitory gradients
Excitatory gradients form
around the CS+; show
where responding is MOST
likely
16 48
8 32
100 400
Spences Theory
Spence: Peak shift occurs because of the
summation of the excitatory and inhibitory
curves
Result is that the most responding is slightly in
favor of the S+
Not as strong of suppression for S-
Thus, get shift away from S-
Just a math phenomenon
Spences Theory to Account for Peak Shift
S+
80 Inhibitory
Inhibitory or Excitatory Strength
Excitatory
60
Difference
40
20
0
-20 S-
-40
-60
490 510 530 550 570 590 610 630 650 670
Wavelength (nanometers)
Interdimensional theory
Kohlers Transposition or Interdimensional
theory
The animal learns a conceptual rule
Not the S- but is the S+
Thus, when given generalization stimuli, take
whatever is the most not S-
Shift away from S+ occurs
400
300
200
100
0
501 530 555 576 606
Wavelength
S+ S- Situation:
100 cm2 60 cm2 original training
250 cm2 150 cm2 Test 1: Spences test
500 cm2 250 cm2 Test 2: Kohlers test
1000 cm2 500 cm2 ??????
Establishing a cue
Classically condition (cue to cue)
Operant conditioning: response to reinforcer, then
add predictive cue for contingency
Teaching Stimulus
Discrimination
Discrimination is a fundamental process
that controls behavior.
Conditional Discriminations.
Matching-to-sample.
Arbitrary Discrimination.
Simple Discrimination
Stimulus is present or not present
One picture on the table thats a cat Say touch
cat and they do
Then
responds to
one of the
comparison
stimuli
Learner 1st responds to
sample (conditional Sample
stimulus)
Match-to-Sample
SD/S SD/S+
+
SD/S SD/S
+ +
flower baby
Sample Sample
Discrimination in the Laboratory.
Many laboratory discrimination procedures have focused
on understanding exactly which stimuli or which aspects
of stimuli control responding.
Successive Discrimination
Definition: The successive presentation of stimuli
A
3 aspects
Reflexivity
Symmetry B C
DO dog
Transitivity
G
Reflexivity
In the absence of training, person selects an
identical stimulus (AKA Generalized identity
matching)
Logic isA = A
For example
Without specific training, the person matches
Symmetry
After being taught to match A to B, person can
match B to A (without training)
Logic isIf A = B, then B = A
For example
After being taught to match to DO
G
Person can match to DO
G
Transitivity
Critical test for stimulus equivalence if you get transitivity, the
stimuli are members of an equivalence class
After being taught to match A to B and B to C, person can match
A to C (without training)
For example
After being taught to match
to DOG AND DOG to
or DOG to dog
Person can match to dog
Factors Affecting the Development of
Stimulus Control
Reinforcement
Differential reinforcement with rich schedules of
reinforcement
Preattending Skills
Looking at type of instructor or materials, sitting up tall, no
stereotypy or other misbehavior
Factors Affecting the Development of
Stimulus Control
Stimulus Presentation
Specificity of directions
Should relate to response definition
Opportunity to response
Frequent, active opportunities to respond (active student learning)
correctly leads to higher rates of academic achievement
Establishing a cue
Classically condition (cue to cue)
Operant conditioning: response to reinforcer,
then add predictive cue for contingency
Shaping the cue
Need to shape the response to the cue
Introduce the stimulus cue right when the behavior
occurs
Not as it is starting, not after
E.g., for a dog to learn sit, not when it is walking, but
when it starts to sit.
BUT: click once the behavior is underway, not when the
behavior is finished
Then, only introduce the cue when the dog is NOT doing the
behavior
Give the cue
Get the behavior
click
Four rules for stimulus control
Behavior occurs immediately upon presentation of
the cue stimulus
Extra-stimulus prompts:
Adding a stimulus to increase likelihood of correct discrimination
Picture prompts
Putting line of food pellets for rat to follow
Aversive cues
Use aversive to STOP behavior
E.g., no, a sharp noise, a table slap
correction
Good for dangerous behaviors
Potential downside:
Squelch behaviors
Organism is startled, now wont move
More likely to bite/nip/freeze
Limited holds and anticipation
Limited hold:
Reinforcer only available in a narrow window
Either take it now, or lose it
Often used to avoid stashing or lazy choice
If do behavior, can get reinforcer within x seconds or
less, otherwise lose it.
Or backwards chain:
Start with last response, then next to last, and so on
Reinforce after successful behavior for criterion
Generalization
May want organism to engage in behavior in
many settings/situations/cues