A01 A02 A03 A04 A05 A07 A09 A10 A11 A12 A13 A14 A18 A19 A21 F01 F02

A15 – Understanding the prediction error driving extinction

Harald Lachnit, Metin Üngör (associated investigator)

Five independent work packages will investigate fundamental predictions of summed error correction, especially that non-reinforced presentations of a cue are neither necessary nor sufficient to induce extinction. Instead, crucial factors should be type and strength of error signals triggered in the specific learning situation. Our aim is to understand how organisms integrate multiple signals to achieve a predictive model of their environment and how predictive values of multiple signals are modulated by experience in order to maintain a match between prediction and reality. 

Guiding questions of A15:

  • Is extinction modulated by the strength of negative prediction errors?
  • Do outcome omissions lead to acquisition when the outcome is under-expected?
  • Do outcome parings lead to extinction when the outcome is over-expected?
  • Is acquisition modulated by the strength of positive prediction errors?
  • Is extinction in multiple stimuli driven by the same error signal?
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Harald Lachnit

Projektleiter A15, F01

Philipps-Universität Marburg

Metin Üngör

Projektleiter (assoziiert) A15

Philipps-Universität Marburg

10 project-relevant publications

Lachnit H, Thorwart A, Schultheis H, Lotz A, Koenig S, Uengoer M (2013) Indicators of early and late processing reveal the importance of within-trial-time for theories of associative learning. PLoS One. 8(6): e66291.

Lotz A, Lachnit H (2009) Extinction of conditioned inhibition: effects of different outcome continua. Learn Behav. 37(1): 85–94.

Lucke S, Lachnit H, Koenig S, Uengoer M (2013) The informational value of contexts affects context-dependent learning. Learn Behav. 41(3): 285–297.

Lucke S, Lachnit H, Stüttgen MC, Uengoer M (2014) The impact of context relevance during extinction learning. Learn Behav. 42(3): 256–269.

Melchers KG, Lachnit H, Shanks (2004) Within-compound associations in retrospective revaluation and in direct learning: a challenge for comparator theory. Q J Exp Psychol B. 57(1): 25–53.

Melchers KG, Lachnit H, Shanks (2006) The comparator theory fails to account for the selective role of within-compound associations in cue-selection effects. Exp Psychol. 53(4): 316–320.

Melchers KG, Uengoer M, Lachnit H (2005) The experimental task influences cue competition in human causal learning. J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process. 31(4): 477–483.

Melchers KG, Wolff S, Lachnit H (2006) Extinction of conditioned inhibition through nonreinforced presentation of the inhibitor. Psychon Bull Rev. 13(4): 662–667.

Thorwart A, Schultheis H, König S, Lachnit H (2009) ALTSim: a MATLAB simulator for current associative learning theories. Behav Res Methods. 41(1): 29–34.

Uengoer M, Lachnit H (2012) Modulation of attention in discrimination learning: the roles of stimulus relevance and stimulus-outcome correlation. Learn Behav. 40(2): 117–127.