Perceptual and Associative Learning

by Geoffrey Hall

Overview

Traditional theories of associative learning have found no place for the possibility that an individual's perception of events might change as a result of experience. Evidence for the reality of perceptual learning has come from procedures unlike those studied by learning theorists. The work reviewed in this book shows that learned changes in perceptual organization can in fact be demonstrated, even in experiments using procedures (such as conditioning and simple discrimination learning) which form the basis of associative theories. These results come from procedures that have been the focus of detailed theoretical and empirical analysis; and from this analysis emerges an outline of the mechanisms responsible. Some of these are associative, others require the addition of nonassociative mechanisms to the traditional theory. The result is an extended version of associative theory which, it is argued, will be relevant not only to the experimental procedures discussed in this book but to the entire range of instances of perceptual learning. For psychologists interested in the basic mechanisms of conditioning, perception, and learning, this volume provides an up-to-date, critical review of the field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198521822
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	01/02/1992
Series:	Oxford Psychology Series , #18
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

University of York

Table of Contents

1. Associative Theory and the Phenomena of Perceptual Learning2. Habituation3. Latent Inhibition as Reduced Associability4. Latent Inhibition as Associative Interference5. Acquired Distinctiveness: Mediation and Differentiation6. Acquired Distinctiveness: Attentional Factors7. Discrimination after Stimulus Exposure8. Learning and the Modification of Stimulus Representations

Editorial Reviews

"Hall's book is a tour de force: it convincingly explains a wide range of phenomena. . . .He suggests enough new experiments to keep workers in animal learning busy for years. And he exhibits great zest: one might say that he writes with faith, hope and clarity." —Nature

"Stimulating. . . . well written. Hall's text is an excellent example of a scholarly monograph focused on a single problem. It is not to be missed by anyone interested in associative theory or Gibsonian (ecological) perception." —Contemporary Psychology

"[Hall] presents refreshingly objective and integrative interpretations of the data." —Science

"Each chapter by itself is a joy to read. The strength of the chapters is that each is a self-contained unit. Because the introductions are so clear and give the reader an intuitive feel for the chapter material, they serve as a great enticement and encourage, if not bait, the reader to continue reading. . . . discussion of experiments is quite extensive . . . extremely relevant. Since the topic is presented in an intuitive matter, as well as a detailed and specific matter, the book can be enjoyed by a wide audience. It would certainly make a great source for a graduate learning seminar and a great source as a current reference book on associative learning." —New Ideas in Psychology

From the Publisher