Associative learning of discrimination with masked stimuli

• Published in: Learning and motivation Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 75 - 88
• Main Author: Marcos, José L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Elsevier Inc 01-02-2007; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Associative Learning; Awareness; Backward masking; Behavior; Cognitive Measurement; Contingency Management; Experimental psychology; Learning; Perception; Perception Tests; Psychological Studies; Reaction Time; Sequential Approach; Stimuli; Visual Discrimination; Backward masking; Associative learning; Awareness
• ISSN: 0023-9690; 1095-9122
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2006.08.001

Great controversy exists on whether associative learning occurs without awareness. In Experiment 1, 31 participants received discrimination training by repeated presentations of two stimulus sequences (S1
A
→
S2
A, and S1
B
→
S2
B), S1 being a masked stimulus. S2 were imperative stimuli for a reaction time (RT) task. After the acquisition phase, all participants were tested with 20 presentations of congruent (S1
A
→
S2
A and S1
B
→
S2
B) and incongruent (S1
A
→
S2
B and S1
B
→
S2
A) stimulus sequences. The RT in the testing phase was faster in congruent than in incongruent stimulus sequences. These results are considered strong evidence of associative learning without awareness of the contingency between the stimuli. A second experiment was designed with SOA varied between three groups (23, 58, and 117
ms). The results showed that the participants responded more quickly to congruent stimulus sequences and that the SOA did not affect RT. The SOA did not modify the effect of congruence either, although the interaction was near significance.