Effect of Pattern Configuration on the Relation between Pattern Area and Pattern Discrimination

Abstract

To explore the possibility that brightness-area disparity in sub-portions of correct and incorrect patterns contributes to improved learning with increasing pattern area, hooded rats were tested with two discrimination problems: high disparity (triangle apex-up versus triangle apex-down) and low disparity (triangle apex-left versus triangle apex-right). Increasing pattern area resulted in improved learning for the high-disparity but not for the low-disparity condition. It was concluded that brightness-area disparity does contribute to improved learning with larger patterns and might provide a useful dimension for classification of patterns in experiments designed to explore the interaction of pattern size and pattern configuration.