PHASE-TRANSITIONS IN LEARNING

Two classic learning situations are critically reviewed and interprete d from a synergetic point of view: (a) human learning of complex skill s, and (b) animal discrimination learning. Both show typical character istics of nonlinear phase transitions: instability, fluctuations, crit ical slowing down and reorganisation. Plateaus in the acquisition curv es of complex skills can be viewed as phases of arrested progress in w hich a reorganisation of simple skills is necessary before their integ ration into complex units is possible. Fluctuations and critical slowi ng down are expressed in instances of ''vicarious trial-and-error,'' w hich describe the oscillating behavior of rats at a choice point that is shown only just before discrimination learning is completed. It is concluded that education might pay more attention to the role of indiv idual learning rhythms.