Extinction induced representational change

Abstract

Extinction may alter the representation of a cue (e.g., it becomes less salient). To assess that idea, three groups learned to suppress mouse clicking in a video game in negative-patterning (X+/Y+/XY-) and positive-patterning (Z+/W+/ZW++) discriminations followed by extinction of X and Z. The negative-patterning discrimination should depend on a configural cue that is dependent on the representation of X and Y. Removal of the excitatory influence of X should further reduce responding to XY. In contrast, if extinction alters the representation of X, the original XY configural cue supporting the discrimination should also be changed, affecting inhibitory control, increasing responding to XY. Following patterning, groups received extinction in the same context as training (Ext A), a different context (Ext B), or received no extinction (no extinction). All stimuli were tested in Context A. Group no extinction showed negative patterning; suppression to X and Y was greater than to XY while suppression to Z, W, and ZW was equally strong. In group Ext A extinction reduced suppression to X, increased suppression to XY, reversed the X/XY discrimination, and weakened the Y/XY discrimination. Extinction of Z reduced suppression to Z with no effect on W or ZW. Group Ext B showed renewal of X and a renewal of the X/XY and Y/XY discriminations. Results suggest some form of representational change in X occurred during extinction disrupting the original XY configural cue that was dependent on that representation. Findings are discussed with respect to theories of associative learning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).