Discrimination reversal learning in squirrel monkeys as a function of number of acquisition trials and prereversal experience.

Abstract

Following 3 different amounts of experience in an object-discrimination situation, 18 squirrel monkeys received 64 discrimination reversal (DR) problems each contained 6 or 18 initial discrimination trials and 1 of 4 single-object, information-trial conditions: none (No), positive (P), negative (N), mixed (M), Each information condition consisted of 4 trials given from the center foodwell under reversal reward conditions. Experience did not influence DR. DR following 6 trials was superior to performance after 18 trials; P, N, and M conditions led to better DR performance than the No condition; N condition facilitated performance significantly more than P condition. Results were interpreted as supporting and extending evidence for the primary role of avoidance learning in discrimination performance.