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Abstract:
One hallmark of explicit learning is interference; learning
one pattern or set of stimuli impairs learning of another. This
experiment investigated whether such interference occurs during
implicit pattern learning when the pattern to be learned (the
primary pattern) is present during only some blocks, and a
different pattern (the secondary pattern) occurs on other blocks.
This is analogous to natural situations in which organisms learn
implicitly about various regularities, each occurring only
intermittently. We used an alternating serial response time task
(Howard & Howard, 1997) in which predictable visuospatial
events (pattern trials) alternate with random ones (random trials).
The experimental groups responded to two different patterns, with a
primary pattern occurring on 21 blocks and a secondary pattern on 7
blocks each day. The control group responded to only one pattern,
the primary pattern, for 21 blocks each day. Participants were not
informed of the presence of any patterns. The results revealed that
the magnitude of primary pattern learning did not differ across
groups (with learning being assessed by speed and accuracy
differences between pattern vs. random trials). This indicates that
the presence of the secondary pattern did not interfere with
learning the primary one, consistent with theories which hold that
implicit learning obeys different principles than explicit
learning.
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