Temporal specificity in cross-modal transfer of the rabbit nictitating membrane response

J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process. 1991 Jan;17(1):26-35.

Abstract

Two experiments examine cross-modal transfer of response features specific to the interstimulus interval (ISI) between a conditioned stimulus (CS) and an unconditioned stimulus. Rabbits were given initial training with a stimulus (CSA) in one modality (e.g., tone) at a designated ISI (e.g., 600 ms). Training was then shifted to a new stimulus (CSB) in another modality (e.g., light) at a new ISI (e.g., 400 ms). The timing of early conditioned responses (CRs) to CSB reflected the ISI of CSA. Ultimately, CRs to CSB shifted to a temporal location conforming to the ISI of CSB. When the ISI of CSB was shorter than that of CSA, CRs to CSA also shifted to a locus conforming to the ISI of CSB. The present results confirmed previous findings that training in one CS modality accelerates CR acquisition to a CS in another modality. The findings are compared with the transfer of response patterns in instrumental learning sets and are discussed regarding their implications for theories of cross-modal transfer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Association Learning*
  • Attention
  • Auditory Perception*
  • Conditioning, Eyelid*
  • Female
  • Generalization, Psychological
  • Memory, Short-Term
  • Mental Recall*
  • Rabbits
  • Transfer, Psychology*
  • Visual Perception*