ERIC Number: EJ688594
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Feb
Pages: 15
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0096-3445
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Simon Effect in Pigeons
Urcuioli, Peter J.; Vu, Kim-Phuong L.; Proctor, Robert W.
Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, v134 n1 p93-107 Feb 2005
Pigeons pecked left versus right keys contingent upon the color presented at 1 of those locations. Spatial-response latencies were shorter when the color appeared at the same location as the required response than at the opposite location. This Simon effect occurred when the stimulus on the alternative key was constant, varied from trial to trial, or changed when the color cue appeared and when the reinforcement probability for correct responses was the same on corresponding as on noncorresponding trials. Humans performing the same task by touching the keys also showed the Simon effect. These findings demonstrate that for pigeons, too, a relevant symbolic cue activates a spatial code that produces faster responses at the location corresponding with the activated code.
Descriptors: Stimuli, Probability, Experimental Psychology, Reinforcement, Operant Conditioning, Animal Behavior, Responses
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Publication Type: Journal Articles
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A