Stages of Abstraction and Exemplar Memorization in Pigeon Category Learning

Authors: Cook, Robert G.¹; Smith, J. David²

Source: Psychological Science, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2006 , pp. 1059-1067(9)

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Abstract:

It has been proposed that human category learning consists of an early abstraction-based stage followed by a later exemplar-memorization stage. To investigate whether similar processing stages extend to category learning in a nonverbal species, we applied a prototype-exception paradigm to investigating pigeon category learning. Five birds and 8 humans learned six-dimensional perceptual categories constructed to include prototypes, typical items, and exceptions. We evaluated the birds' and humans' categorization strategies at different points during learning. Early on in both species, prototype performance improved rapidly as exception performance remained below chance, indicating an initial mastery of the categories' general structure. Later on, exception performance improved selectively and dramatically, indicating exception-item resolution and exemplar memorization. Abstraction- and exemplar-based formal models reinforced these interpretations. The results suggest a psychological transition in pigeon category learning from abstraction- to exemplar-based processing similar to that found in humans.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01833.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychology, Tufts University, and 2: Department of Psychology and Center for Cognitive Science, University at Buffalo, State University of New York

Publication date: 2006-12-01