Barnes-Holmes, Dermot and Regan, Donal and Barnes-Holmes, Yvonne and Commins, Sean and Walsh, Derek and Stewart, Ian and Smeets, Paul M. and Whelan, Robert and Dymond, Simon (2005) Relating Derived Relations as a Model of Analogical Reasoning: Reaction Times and Event-Related Potentials. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 84 (3). pp. 435-451. ISSN 0022-5002

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Abstract

The current study aimed to test a Relational Frame Theory (RFT) model of analogical reasoning based on the relating of derived same and derived difference relations. Experiment 1 recorded reaction time measures of similar–similar (e.g., “apple is to orange as dog is to cat”) versus different–different (e.g., “he is to his brother as chalk is to cheese”) derived relational responding, in both speed-contingent and speed-noncontingent conditions. Experiment 2 examined the event-related potentials (ERPs) associated with these two response patterns. Both experiments showed similar–similar responding to be significantly faster than different–different responding. Experiment 2 revealed significant differences between the waveforms of the two response patterns in the left-hemispheric prefrontal regions; different–different waveforms were significantly more negative than similar–similar waveforms. The behavioral and neurophysiological data support the RFT prediction that, all things being equal, similar–similar responding is relationally “simpler” than, and functionally distinct from, different–different analogical responding. The ERP data were fully consistent with findings in the neurocognitive literature on analogy. These findings strengthen the validity of the RFT model of analogical reasoning and supplement the behavior-analytic approach to analogy based on the relating of derived relations.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	relating relations; analogy; reasoning; derived relations; humans;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	10702
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.2005.79-04
Depositing User:	Dr. Sean Commins
Date Deposited:	09 Apr 2019 14:21
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
Publisher:	Society for Experimental Behavior
Refereed:	Yes
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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