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New study from SFB 1280 on context learning


The saying “context is everything”. Quotes, events, actions, or stimuli, cannot be viewed in isolation. They must be interpreted in the light of a bigger picture – their context. This is also evident in extinction learning where, in contextual renewal, an extinguished response reoccurs if the context is changed.

But what exactly is context? In our study, we assessed how competing stimuli induced contextual renewal during extinction learning in pigeons (Columba livia) using a modified ABA paradigm (see below). Manipulating the timing of stimuli, we found that with the right contiguity, small local stimuli resulted in the strongest contextual renewal.

This result challenges definitions of context as ‘a backdrop where learning occurs’. We rather propose that context can be understood mechanistically as a learned stimulus property.

Press release from Science Magazine: >>

Direct link for the publication: >>

ABA Paradigm:

A: The pigeons learn stimulus associations under local and global context factors.

B: Extinction of learned associations under new local and global context factors.

A’: In the renewal phase, one of the two possible context stimuli (local/global) is now presented in its original configuration before extinction , while the other stimulus remains as it was during extinction. This “competition” between the different contextual stimuli enables a comparison of the contextual renewal between the different types of contexts.

Experimental Setup:

A Experimental setup. The pigeons were placed in an arena with colorfully illuminated areas and geometric shapes on screens as orientation aids. The animals responded to small touchscreens on the floor and automatically received their rewards there.

B Experimental procedure. After an initial click, the pigeons were shown two choices: a positive signal (S+) and a negative signal (S-). Pecking on the positive signal was rewarded with food pellets, pecking on the negative signal remained unrewarded.

C Learning and extinction procedure. In the first learning phase (context A), the animals were placed in a random location with a white screen background. In the extinction phase (context B), they changed location and screen color (here yellow). In the final test phase, either the original learning location with the new screen color or the new location with the original screen color was used.

New Year, New Me: The Facts

As the calendar turns to a new year, millions of people around the world commit to New Year’s resolutions, making promises to use the new year as a fresh beginning and an opportunity for transformation. In 2024, almost three-quarters of the British population set themselves New Year’s resolutions — that’s around 40 million people (or the entire population of Canada). This tradition was particularly strong among younger generations, with 96% of Generation Z (aged 18-27) planning resolutions, compared to just 35% of the Silent Generation (aged 79+).

Most common new years resolutions:

  1. Saving more money (52%)
  2. Eat healthier (50%)
  3. Exercise more (48%)
  4. Lose weight (37%)
  5. Spend more time with family/friends (35%)

How long do most resolutions normally last before being broken?

  • Data from America (2016) shows that 75% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first week. 
  • 64% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first month. 
  • 46% of individuals in America keep their resolutions past the 6-month mark.

What makes resolutions stick?

Oscarsson et al. (2020) conducted research into what makes New Year’s resolutions stick. Biggest success rates depended on how people phrased their goals. Participants who set approach-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) than those with avoidance-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) were significantly more successful (58.9% vs. 47.1%) at sticking to their goals.

The study also investigates the effects of outside support. These participants received monthly follow-ups and emails with information and exercises for coping with hurdles when striving toward personal goals, and were also encouraged to set goals using the SMART technique and to set interim goals. The group that received some support was exclusively and significantly more successful compared to the groups who received a lot of support or no support at all. 

Additionally, you might feel more successful if you set goals that are measurable in numbers. While success for a person striving to quit smoking or lose weight could easily be measured in the number of cigarettes smoked or body mass index, the success for a person striving to “take better care of themselves” could be highly subjective and possibly impossible to measure.

So as we enter 2026, let’s remember to work with our brain’s natural learning system: Frame your goals positively, break them into manageable steps, and celebrate small wins along the way.