Effects of context change upon retrieval of first and second-learned information in human predictive learning
- Rosas Santos, Juan Manuel
- Callejas Aguilera, José Enrique
- García Gutiérrez, Ana
ISSN: 0211-2159, 1576-8597
Año de publicación: 2006
Volumen: 27
Número: 1
Páginas: 35-56
Tipo: Artículo
Otras publicaciones en: Psicológica: Revista de metodología y psicología experimental
Resumen
Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the context switch effect upon retrieval of the information about a cue-outcome relationship in human predictive learning. The results replicated the well-known effect of renewal of the cue-outcome relationship due to a context change after a retroactive interference treatment, as much as the null effect of the context change upon acquisition before retroactive interference training had taken place (Experiment 2). However, retrieval of an unambiguous cue-outcome relationship was also impaired by a context switch when this relationship was established in a context where a different cue had received an interference treatment (Experiments 1 and 2). Once the interference treatment was given to participants in one context, unambiguous cue-outcome relationships learned in a different context also became context specific (Experiment 2). The implications of these results for retrieval theory are discussed.