Outcome value influences attentional biases in human associative learning: dissociable effects of training and instruction.

Pelley ME Le, Chris J. Mitchell, Ameika M. Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Four experiments using human participants examined how learning about the value of an outcome with which a cue is associated influences attention to that cue. Experiment 1 demonstrated that participants learn more rapidly about cues that previously predicted high-value outcomes than those that predicted low-value outcomes, indicating an attentional bias that is based on the learned value of cues. Experiments 2 through 4 examined the nature of this bias by retrospectively manipulating the value of the outcomes involved through instructions to participants. Results demonstrate that learning about value through trial-by-trial training and through instruction both influence attention to the cues involved, but in different ways. We take these findings to suggest that the learning of attentional responses, just like more overt forms of instrumental action, can be influenced by both goal-directed and habit-like processes.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)39-55
Number of pages0
JournalJ Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process
Volume39
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2013

Keywords

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Association Learning
  • Attention
  • Bias
  • Cues
  • Female
  • Fixation
  • Ocular
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Recall
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Probability Learning
  • Reaction Time
  • Students
  • Universities

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