| Summary: | To test the assumptions of two models of timing, Scalar Expectancy Theory (SET) and Learning to Time (LeT), nine pigeons were exposed to two temporal discriminations, each signaled by a different cue. On half of the trials, pigeons learned to choose a red key after a 1.5-s horizontal bar and a green key after a 6-s horizontal bar; on the other half of the trials, they learned to choose a blue key after a 6-s vertical bar and a yellow key after a 24-s vertical bar. During subsequent test trials, they were exposed to the horizontal or vertical bar, for durations ranging from 1.5 to 24 s, and given a choice between novel key combinations: red vs. yellow, or green vs. blue. Results showed a strong effect of sample duration-as the test signal duration increased, preference for green over blue increased and preference for red over yellow decreased. The effect of sample cue was obtained only on the green-blue test trials. These effects are discussed in light of SET and LeT.
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