18 Questions
What is the primary focus of Mackintosh's theory?
The role of attention in associative learning
In the study by Le Pelley et al. (2005), what was the outcome of the test phase when participants were asked to predict O3?
Participants were more confident that AC would produce O3 than vx
According to the Mackintosh model, what happens to αCS when a new CS is perceived as a good predictor of the US?
αCS increases
What is the term for the process by which cues are selectively associated with outcomes based on their predictive value?
Selective association
What is the term for the variable that represents the associability of a cue in the Mackintosh model?
αCS
What is the primary difference between the Mackintosh model and the Rescorla-Wagner model?
The Mackintosh model assumes variable associability, while the Rescorla-Wagner model assumes fixed associability
What is the fundamental assumption of Mackintosh's theory that is challenged by the Hall-Pearce effect?
The associative learning is dependent on the attentional processing of the CS.
What is the primary goal of the Pearce-Hall model?
To explain the role of attention in classical conditioning.
What is the outcome of the predictive learning of the CS in the Pearce-Hall model?
The CS is processed automatically without attentional waste.
What is the relationship between αA and αB in Phase 1 of the Hall-Pearce experiment?
Both αA and αB increase.
What is the implication of the Hall-Pearce effect on the predictive learning of the CS?
The CS is less likely to be processed attentionally.
What is the primary difference between the Mackintosh's theory and the Pearce-Hall model?
Mackintosh's theory assumes attentional processing is dependent on the US, while the Pearce-Hall model assumes it is dependent on the CS.
Which of the following is the primary critique of the Rescorla-Wagner model?
It does not account for latent inhibition
According to Mackintosh's attentional model, which of the following is true?
Animals pay more attention to stimuli that predict important events
What is the primary function of the A2 component of the unconditioned eyeblink response?
To mediate the fear response to the tone CS
What is the term for the process by which a stimulus becomes associated with the context in which it is presented?
Context-stimulus association
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of classical conditioning according to the R-W model?
The CS can elicit a CR without the US
What is the term for the phenomenon where pre-exposure to the CS impairs subsequent conditioning?
Latent inhibition
Study Notes
Mackintosh's Theory
- Mackintosh (1975) proposed that animals pay attention to stimuli that predict important events.
- According to Mackintosh's theory, α (associability) increases for stimuli that reliably predict the outcome.
- In Phase 1, αA increases as it reliably predicts the shock.
The Hall-Pearce Effect
- The Hall-Pearce effect (Hall & Pearce, 1979) challenges Mackintosh's theory.
- In Phase 1, αA decreases rather than increases, contradicting Mackintosh's assumption.
Pearce-Hall Model
- Pearce and Hall (1980) proposed an alternative attentional theory of learning.
- According to the Pearce-Hall model, ΔVcs = (processing of CS) (processing of US).
- Stimuli that fully predict their consequences will be processed automatically without attentional waste.
Le Pelley et al. (2005)
- Le Pelley et al. (2005) found that humans pay attention to good predictors of outcomes (allergies).
- The study supported Mackintosh's theory, showing that participants were more confident in the predictive ability of cues that were good predictors of outcomes.
Mackintosh Model
- The Mackintosh model states that ΔVcs = α (processing of CS) (processing of US).
- A new CS will have relatively high associability (α≈0.8), which increases or decreases based on the stimulus's predictive history.
R-W Model Limitations
- The Rescorla-Wagner (R-W) model has limitations, including latent inhibition.
- Latent inhibition occurs when pre-exposure to a stimulus impairs subsequent conditioning.
Wagner's Context-Stimulus Association
- Wagner (1976) proposed that associative priming of stimulus by full A1 activation of stimulus context leads to latent inhibition.
- The context—stimulus association accounts for latent inhibition.
Test your understanding of the outcome specificity of learned predictiveness effects in human causal learning. This quiz is based on the study by Le Pelley et al. (2005) and explores the relationship between food combinations and patient reactions. Learn about the role of predictors in causal learning and assess your knowledge of this psychological concept.
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