Signal detection theory as a framework for interpreting concept acquisition was studied in three experiments involving preschool children. Results of the studies suggest that juxtaposition of minimally different examples is superior to exclusively positive sequences, and consistent instructions are superior to varied instructions. (Author/JN)

This article reports the results of an experiment addressing extrapolation in function learning, in particular the issue of whether participants can extrapolate in a nonmonotonic manner. Existing models of function learning, including the extrapolation association model of function learning (EXAM; E. L. DeLosh, J. R. Busemeyer, & M. A. McDaniel,…

Recently developed accounts of language comprehension propose that sentences are understood by constructing a perceptual simulation of the events being described. These simulations involve the re-activation of patterns of brain activation that were formed during the comprehender's interaction with the world. In two experiments we explored the…

In tactile learning, sucrose is the unconditioned stimulus and reward, which is usually applied to the antenna to elicit proboscis extension and which the bee can drink when it is subsequently applied to the extended proboscis. The conditioned stimulus is a tactile object that the bee can scan with its antennae. In this paper we describe the…

In 3 experiments, 9-month-old infants' expectations for what distinct count noun labels refer to were investigated. In Experiment 1, a box was opened to reveal 2 objects inside during familiarization: either 2 identical objects or 2 different objects. Test trials followed the same procedure, except before the box was opened, the contents were…

Research supported in part by Public Health Service Fellowship No. 5-FI-MH-24, 454-02 (MTLH) from the National Institute of Mental Health.

In this research on motor short-term memory it was hypothesized that subjects making free-selected movements would evidence superior reproduction accuracy over subjects making preselected movements, whose reproduction performance would be superior to subjects making constrained movements. Subjects making free-selected movements were allowed to…

BOTH COGNITIVELY-ORIENTED AND RESPONSE-ORIENTED THEORIES OF PERCEPTUAL LEARNING ARE DISCUSSED AND CONTRASTED WITH A STIMULUS-ORIENTED THEORY. PERCEPTUAL LEARNING IS DEFINED AS AN INCREASE IN SPECIFICITY OF DISCRIMINATION OF THE STIMULUS INPUT. THE AUTHOR DESCRIBED WHAT IS LEARNED IN PERCEPUTAL LEARNING AS () THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THINGS, (2)…

The purpose of this study was to measure nonverbally the preference of alternative responses when the net probability of being rewarded was the same. A demonstration of preference under these circumstances would suggest the ability to control or maintain behavior without explicit administration of a reinforcing agent. Head Start children were used…

A study examined lexical specificity, the occurrence of pragmatic information, and a syntactic aspect (presence or absence of inversion) of the acquisition of both indirect and direct wh-questions in children aged five through eight years. (MSE)

Fifteen moderately or severely retarded adults listened to music and looked at slides in baseline schedules, reinforcement schedules, and control phases with no contingent relation between responses. Individual analysis of instrumental responding indicated increases in schedules that produced response deprivation, but only once in schedules that…

Determines whether subliminal perception can be used as a means for altering cigarette smoking behavior. Smoking behavior was not altered through subliminal perception as carried out in this study. There was evidence that smoking behavior was altered, but it was an unpredicted change. Some subjects decreased smoking patterns. (Author)

The nature of stimulus and response generalization is discussed, and a number of tasks related to generalization that are commonly taught in early childhood programs are identified. Research evidence concerning generalization is reported, as are recommendations for enhancing generalization. (Author/LB)