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Blocking and Unblocking in a Navigation Task

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Title: Blocking and Unblocking in a Navigation Task
Language: English
Authors: Rodrigo, T., Arall, M., Chamizo, V. D.
Source: Psicologica: International Journal of Methodology and Experimental Psychology. 2005 26(2):229-241.
Availability: University of Valencia. Dept. Metodologia, Facultad de Psicologia, Avda. Blasco Ibanez 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain. Tel: +34-96-386-4100; Web site: http://www.uv.es/revispsi/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2005
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Control Groups, Animals, Classical Conditioning, Recreational Facilities, Language Acquisition, Experiments, Reinforcement, Spatial Ability, Error Correction, Navigation, Cognitive Mapping, Stimuli, Associative Learning, Learning Theories, Statistical Analysis
ISSN: 0211-2159
Abstract: Rodrigo, Chamizo, McLaren, & Mackintosh (1997) demonstrated the blocking effect in a navigational task using a swimming pool: rats initially trained to use three landmarks (ABC) to find an invisible platform learned less about a fourth landmark (X) added later than did rats trained from the outset with these four landmarks (ABCX). The aim of the experiment reported here was to demonstrate unblocking using a similar procedure as in the previous work. Three groups of rats were initially trained to find an invisible platform in the presence of three landmarks: ABC for the Blocking and Unblocking groups and LMN for the Control group. Then, all animals were trained to find the platform in the presence of four landmarks, ABCX. In this second training, unlike animals in the Blocking group to which only a new landmark (X) was added in comparison to the first training, the animals in the Unblocking group also had a change in the platform position. In the Control group, both the four landmarks and the platform position were totally new at the beginning of this second training. As in Rodrigo et al. (1997) a blocking effect was found: rats in the Blocking group learned less with respect to the added landmark (X) than did animals in the Control group. However, rats in the Unblocking group learned about the added landmark (X) as well as did animals in the Control group. The results are interpreted as an unblocking effect due to a change in the platform position between the two phases of training, similarly to what is normal in classical conditioning experiments, in which a change in the conditions of reinforcement between the two training phases of a blocking design produce an attenuation or elimination of this effect. These results are explained within an error-correcting connectionist account of spatial navigation (McLaren, 2002). (Contains 2 figures.)
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 32
Entry Date: 2009
Accession Number: EJ844426
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Psicologica%3A+International+Journal+of+Methodology+and+Experimental+Psychology%22"><i>Psicologica: International Journal of Methodology and Experimental Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2005 26(2):229-241.
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  Data: University of Valencia. Dept. Metodologia, Facultad de Psicologia, Avda. Blasco Ibanez 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain. Tel: +34-96-386-4100; Web site: http://www.uv.es/revispsi/
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  Data: Rodrigo, Chamizo, McLaren, & Mackintosh (1997) demonstrated the blocking effect in a navigational task using a swimming pool: rats initially trained to use three landmarks (ABC) to find an invisible platform learned less about a fourth landmark (X) added later than did rats trained from the outset with these four landmarks (ABCX). The aim of the experiment reported here was to demonstrate unblocking using a similar procedure as in the previous work. Three groups of rats were initially trained to find an invisible platform in the presence of three landmarks: ABC for the Blocking and Unblocking groups and LMN for the Control group. Then, all animals were trained to find the platform in the presence of four landmarks, ABCX. In this second training, unlike animals in the Blocking group to which only a new landmark (X) was added in comparison to the first training, the animals in the Unblocking group also had a change in the platform position. In the Control group, both the four landmarks and the platform position were totally new at the beginning of this second training. As in Rodrigo et al. (1997) a blocking effect was found: rats in the Blocking group learned less with respect to the added landmark (X) than did animals in the Control group. However, rats in the Unblocking group learned about the added landmark (X) as well as did animals in the Control group. The results are interpreted as an unblocking effect due to a change in the platform position between the two phases of training, similarly to what is normal in classical conditioning experiments, in which a change in the conditions of reinforcement between the two training phases of a blocking design produce an attenuation or elimination of this effect. These results are explained within an error-correcting connectionist account of spatial navigation (McLaren, 2002). (Contains 2 figures.)
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
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        PageCount: 13
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      – SubjectFull: Control Groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Animals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Classical Conditioning
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      – SubjectFull: Recreational Facilities
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      – SubjectFull: Language Acquisition
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      – SubjectFull: Reinforcement
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      – SubjectFull: Spatial Ability
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      – SubjectFull: Error Correction
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      – SubjectFull: Navigation
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      – SubjectFull: Cognitive Mapping
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      – SubjectFull: Stimuli
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      – SubjectFull: Learning Theories
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      – SubjectFull: Statistical Analysis
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      – TitleFull: Blocking and Unblocking in a Navigation Task
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            NameFull: Chamizo, V. D.
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