PROTOTYPE EFFECTS IN CATEGORIZATION BY PIGEONS

Abstract

In 4 experiments pigeons received a categorization task involving 6 simultaneous compounds in which the elements A, B, and C were more frequently paired with food than were the elements D, E, and F. Food was delivered after compounds ABF, AEC, and DBC but not after DEC, DBF, and AEF. Subsequent testing revealed a higher rate of responding during ABC than during any of the compounds that had signaled food and a lower rate of responding during DEF than during any of the compounds that had not signaled food. Experiments 2, 3, and 4 further demonstrated that the rate of responding during test trials with ABC was faster than during a compound composed of 3 elements that had individually been paired with food. The results are more consistent with a configural than an elemental analysis of discrimination and categorization.