Sign-reference equivalence research methods in humans and animals

Abstract

Human language based on symbolization or sign-referent equivalence relations. The paper focuses on methods of studying the process of developing of sign-referent equivalence. Subject is trained in Matching-To-Sample task: for example, reinforcing of stimulus B if the sample was A, and stimulus D if the sample was C. Following test allows to reveal if new relations (for example, symmetry, if subject chooses stimulus A if the sample was B) appeared spontaneously. Human subjects usually pass this test successfully. This result may be explained by repeated demonstration of sign-referent symmetry during language learning and using. Our paper is dedicated to methods features which can be used to study sign-reference developing in human and animals. We discuss factors that leads to appearance of this crucial property of stimulus equivalence.