A computational implementation of a Hebbian learning network and its application to configural forms of acquired equivalence

Robinson, Jasper; George, David N.; Heinke, Dietmar

Abstract

We describe and report the results of computer simulations of the three-layer Hebbian network informally described by Honey, Close, and Lin (2010): A general account of discrimination that has been shaped by data from configural acquired equivalence experiments that are beyond the scope of alternative models. Simulations implemented a conditional principle components analysis (CPCA) Hebbian learning algorithm and were of four published experimental demonstrations of configural acquired equivalence. Experiments involved training rats on appetitive bi-conditional discriminations in which discrete cues, (w and x) signaled food delivery (+) or its absence (-) in four different contexts (A, B, C and D): Aw+ Bw- Cw+ Dw- Ax- Bx+ Cx- Dx+. Contexts A and C acquired equivalence. In three of the experiments acquired equivalence was evident from subsequent revaluation, from compound testing or from whole-/part-reversal training. The fourth experiment added concurrent bi-conditional discriminations with the same contexts but a pair of additional discrete cues (y and z). The congruent form of the discrimination, in which A and C provided the same information about y and z, was solved relatively readily. Parametric variation allowed the network to successfully simulate the results of each of the four experiments.

Citation

Robinson, J., George, D. N., & Heinke, D. (2019). A computational implementation of a Hebbian learning network and its application to configural forms of acquired equivalence. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Learning and Cognition, 45(3), 356-371. https://doi.org/10.1037/xan0000203

• Journal Article Type: Note
• Acceptance Date: Feb 15, 2019
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Mar 28, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 28, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Learning and Cognition
• Print ISSN: 2329-8464
• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 356-371
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/xan0000203
• Keywords: Acquired equivalence; Configural; Discrimination; Hebbian; Learning
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1442329
• Publisher URL: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2019-36796-001
• Contract Date: Mar 28, 2019