A pigeon is reinforced for pecking a yellow, but not a purple, key. When tested with colors similar to yellow, responding falls off gradually as the color becomes more different. Which of the following statements is true? A) According to theories of attention like that of Mackintosh, this gradient would probably have been much flatter if there had been no S^Δ and no opportunity to learn the exact features of light that make it a good predictor. B) This gradient is a natural function of the degree of similarity between stimuli. C) The gradient would have been much steeper if there had been no S^Δ. D) The gradient should not be affected by an S^Δ unless the S^D and S^Δ are very similar.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Theories of attention, like Mackintosh's, suggest that the presence of an S^Δ (a stimulus signaling no reinforcement) helps the organism learn to discriminate between stimuli, leading to a steeper gradient. Without an S^Δ, the gradient would be flatter as the organism would not learn the specific features that predict reinforcement.

A Pigeon Is Reinforced for Pecking a Yellow, but Not