An ERP comparison of derived relations in stimulus equivalence classes

TABULLO, ÁNGEL; ZANUTTO, SILVANO; WAINSELBOIM, ALEJANDRO

Psychology and neuroscience

Instituto Brasileiro de Neuropsicologia e Comportamento (IBNeC)

Lugar: Río de Janeiro; Año: 2015 vol. 8 p. 509 - 528

1984-3054

We conducted an ERP study of derived relations within stimulus equivalence classes. After successful training of baseline relations, subjects performed a priming task and their ERP responses to the following prime-target pairs were registered: 1) stimuli related through symmetry, 2) stimuli non-related through symmetry, 3) stimuli related through symmetry-transivity combined (equivalence) and 4) stimuli non-related through equivalence. A P300-like component was observedin related targets, which was earlier for symmetry and later for symmetry-transitivity, while an N400-like effect was found in non-equivalent stimuli. The P300 delay after equivalent stimuli was interpreted as evidence that relational strength within equivalence classes is inversely related to the number of logical operations required to link the stimuli. The N400 effect for non-equivalent stimuli was congruent with previous literature, and suggests a potential overlap between the neuralcorrelates of priming in language and stimulus equivalence.