Tracking Eye Fixations during Stimulus Generalization Tests

Author(s)

Kanamota, Juliano Setsuo Violin ; Tomanari, Gerson Yukio ; Mcilvane, William J.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PSYCHOLOGICAL RECORD; v. N/A, p. 10-pg., 2025-01-23.

Abstract

In the analysis of operant behavior, there is little empirical research on the relationship between observing responses and primary stimulus generalization. This work aimed to investigate eye fixations when S+ and S- dimensions were varied on generalization tests. Ten university students participated. Their training consisted of a MULT VI 1 s EXT schedule followed by MULT VI 2 s EXT schedule. Discriminative stimuli were three Gabor line tilts. S+ and S- had 45 degrees and 135 degrees slopes, respectively. After participants achieved discrimination indices of 75%, generalization tests in extinction began. There were two different conditions: (1) S+ was replaced by stimuli with angles of 15 omicron, 30 omicron, 45 omicron, 60 omicron, and 75 omicron (five participants). (2) S- was replaced by 105 omicron, 120 omicron, 135 omicron,, 150 degrees, and 165 degrees (five participants). In both training and tests, eye tracking equipment recorded observing responses defined as visual fixations. S+ variations yielded sharp observing response gradients. However, S- variations yielded flattened, bell-shaped, and U-shaped observing response gradients. These data contribute to the limited information on human observing during tests of primary stimulus generalization. The study provides a methodology for accomplishing a more complete characterization of behavioral processes that may be operative when normally capable adults are exposed to variations in S+ and S- on generalization tasks. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50909-8 - INCT 2014: Behavior, Cognition and Teaching (INCT-ECCE): relational learning and symbolic functioning
• Grantee: Deisy das Graças de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants