Fig. 1
From: Abstract rule learning and generalization in human and nonhuman primates
(A) Trial design and stimuli. In all trials, three sequences each consisting of three stimulus elements following the rules ‘ABA’, ‘AAB’ and ‘BAA’ were presented simultaneously on the screen. These stimuli were either colored squares or white shapes and were randomly generated for each trial (see Methods). For each participant, one rule was assigned as ‘correct’, and participants received positive reinforcement for selecting this stimulus sequence. (B) Experimental design. Participants initially learned the color rule (Phase 1.1), before we assessed generalization across stimulus domains to shape stimuli (Phase 1.2). A subset of monkeys and all humans were then trained on the shape rule (Phase 2.1). We then confirmed that they still remembered the color rule (Phase 2.2), before changing that rule (e.g., from ‘AAB’ to ‘BAA’; Phase 2.3). Finally, we again assessed generalization across stimulus domains, asking if this newly learned color rule would be generalized to the shape stimuli (Phase 2.4). Blue backgrounds denote phases which included shape stimuli.
