PROTOTYPE EFFECTS IN CATEGORIZATION BY PIGEONS

In 4 experiments pigeons received a categorization task involving 6 si multaneous compounds in which the elements A, B, and C were more frequ ently paired with food than were the elements D, E, and F. Food was de livered after compounds ABF, AEC, and DBC but not after DEC, DBF, and AEF. Subsequent testing revealed a higher rate of responding during AB C than during any of the compounds that had signaled food and a lower rate of responding during DEF than during any of the compounds that ha d not signaled food. Experiments 2, 3, and 4 further demonstrated that the rate of responding during test trials with ABC was faster than du ring a compound composed of 3 elements that had individually been pair ed with food. The results are more consistent with a configural than a n elemental analysis of discrimination and categorization.