Conditioning, reinforcement and implicit learning tasks

Contingencies between stimuli, actions and outcomes are learned from experience, with or without explicit instruction; learning curves, choice probabilities and perseveration are the measures.

This family contains 10 tasks and cross-lists 1 more.

Artificial Grammar Learning

Exposure to letter strings generated by a finite-state grammar followed by a grammaticality judgment on novel strings; indexes implicit rule learning. Engages 4 processesImplicit memoryProcedural memoryPattern recognitionCategorization. 3 aliasesAGLArtificial GrammarArtificial Grammar Learning, 7 variationsStandard AGL (Reber)Transfer VersionChunk Strength ControlProduction TaskSequential AGLHierarchical AGLCross-Modal AGL.

Causal Learning

Participants observe cue-outcome pairings across trials and judge the causal strength of the relationship; judgment profiles across contingency conditions index causal induction and associative learning mechanisms. Engages 4 processesCausal reasoningAssociative learningReward prediction errorProbability judgment. 6 aliasesContingency Judgment TaskContingency Learning TaskCausal Judgment TaskCausal Induction TaskDelta-P TaskAllergy Prediction Task, 8 variationsAllergy Prediction TaskBlocking ParadigmOutcome Density ManipulationTrial-by-Trial PredictionSummary vs. Sequential PresentationMulti-Cause (Relative Validity)Causal Direction ManipulationBackward Blocking / Retrospective Revaluation.

Instrumental Conditioning

Actions are reinforced by contingent outcomes under defined schedules; response rate and choice probability across schedules index instrumental learning. Specific human instantiations include lever/button-press reward paradigms and free-operant tasks. Engages 5 processesInstrumental conditioningReinforcement learningGoal-directed behaviorHabitReward prediction error. 4 aliasesOperant ConditioningInstrumental LearningPITPavlovian-Instrumental Transfer, 11 variationsFixed Ratio (FR)Variable Ratio (VR)Fixed Interval (FI)Variable Interval (VI)Progressive RatioConcurrent ChoiceTwo-Stage Decision Task (Daw)Devaluation ParadigmContingency DegradationOutcome-Specific Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer (PIT)Avoidance Learning.

Multi-Armed Bandit

Repeated choice among options with unknown or changing reward distributions; choice sequences dissociate exploration from exploitation. Engages 5 processesReinforcement learningValue learningReward prediction errorValue-based decision makingStrategy use. 4 aliasesMABBandit TaskK-Armed BanditMulti-Armed Bandit, 9 variationsTwo-Armed Stationary BanditRestless (Volatile) BanditContextual BanditHorizon Task (Wilson et al.)Four-Armed Bandit with ReversalInformative vs. Non-Informative ExplorationSocial BanditBandit with Effort CostBandit with Partial Observability.

Pavlovian Fear Conditioning

A neutral CS is paired with an aversive US (shock, loud sound); conditioned responses (SCR, startle, amygdala BOLD) index fear learning. Engages 5 processesPavlovian conditioningAssociative learningExtinctionAvoidance motivationEmotion regulation. 3 aliasesFear ConditioningClassical ConditioningFC, 12 variationsDelay ConditioningTrace ConditioningContextual ConditioningDifferential Conditioning (CS+/CS−)Extinction TrainingExtinction RecallRenewal (Context Change)ReinstatementReconsolidation ParadigmGeneralization GradientInstructed vs. UninstructedCompound CS Conditioning.

Probabilistic Classification Learning

Multi-cue probabilistic prediction of a binary outcome with trial-by-trial feedback; learning curves index gradual procedural category learning. Engages 5 processesReinforcement learningAssociative learningCategorizationStrategy useProcedural memory. 4 aliasesWeather PredictionProbabilistic Classification LearningWeather Prediction TaskWPT, 7 variationsStandard Weather Prediction (4 cues, binary outcome)Deterministic VersionVarying Probability LevelsInformation-Integration Category LearningRule-Based Category Learning (comparison)Feedback vs. Observation LearningTransfer Test Variants.

Probabilistic Selection

Learn to choose between stimulus pairs through probabilistic feedback, then select among novel recombinations; choose-A vs. avoid-B accuracy dissociates positive and negative reinforcement learning. Engages 5 processesReinforcement learningReward prediction errorApproach motivationAvoidance motivationValue learning. 5 aliasesPSTProbabilistic Stimulus Selection TaskPSSFrank TaskProbabilistic Selection, 5 variationsStandard PST (3 Stimulus Pairs)Extended Training Versions4-Pair VersionGain-Only and Loss-Only VariantsPST with Volatility.

Reversal Learning

After initial stimulus-reward learning, the contingencies switch; perseveration and reversal speed index behavioral flexibility. Engages 4 processesReversal learningReinforcement learningReward prediction errorSet shifting. 2 aliasesPRLProbabilistic Reversal Learning, 6 variationsDeterministic ReversalProbabilistic ReversalSerial ReversalStimulus-Outcome vs. Action-Outcome ReversalMulti-Dimensional ReversalReward vs. Punishment Reversal.

Serial Reaction Time

Sequential key-press responses to cued locations; RT speedup on repeating vs random sequences indexes implicit sequence learning. Engages 5 processesMotor sequence learningImplicit memoryProcedural memoryMotor preparationResponse execution. 3 aliasesSRTTSerial RTSerial Reaction Time, 7 variationsDeterministic SRTTProbabilistic SRTTAlternating Serial Reaction Time (ASRT)SRTT with Awareness AssessmentSecond-Order Conditional (SOC) SequencesArm-Reaching/Foot-Stepping SRTTCross-Modal SRTT, also filed under 1 other familyMotor performance and speeded response tasks.

Two-Stage Decision

Sequential two-choice task with probabilistic transitions to second-stage states and drifting rewards; choice patterns dissociate model-based from model-free control. Engages 5 processesModel-based learningModel-free learningReinforcement learningReward prediction errorValue-based decision making. 3 aliasesTwo-Step TaskDaw TaskMB/MF Task, 5 variationsStandard Daw et al. (2011) VersionShortened/Simplified VersionsEnhanced Model-Based VersionDevaluation ManipulationTwo-Stage with Instructed Knowledge.

Also filed here

These tasks are filed under another family and cross-listed here; the note says why.

Task	Filed under	Note
Contextual Cueing	Visual search and tracking tasks	Visual search with repeated layouts; the learning could argue for conditioning and implicit learning

Marked for review

A review mark means the assignment is a judgement call the curator has flagged for a second opinion. On the family an entry is filed under it means “not sure this is the right home”; on a cross-listing it means “not sure this belongs here at all”. The note names the alternative or the doubt. Comments go to the issue tracker.

Task	Membership	Note
Contextual Cueing	cross-listed	Visual search with repeated layouts; the learning could argue for conditioning and implicit learning