Stimuli that provide information about likely future reinforcers tend to shift behavior, provided a reliable relation between the stimulus and the reinforcer can be discriminated. Stimuli that are apparently more reliable exert greater control over behavior. We asked how the subjective value (measured in terms of preference) of reinforcers associated with stimuli influences stimulus control. Five pigeons worked on a concurrent chains procedure in which half of all trials ended in a smaller reinforcer sooner, and the other half in a larger reinforcer later. In Signaled trials, the color and flash duration on the keys in the initial link signaled the outcome of the trial. In Conflicting probe trials, the color and the flash duration signaled conflicting information about the outcome of the trial. Choice in Signaled trials shifted toward the signaled outcome, but was never exclusive. In Conflicting probe trials, control was divided idiosyncratically between the 2 stimulus dimensions, but still favored the outcome with the higher subjective value. Thus, stimulus control depends not only on the perceived reliability of stimuli, but also on the subjective value of the outcome.

中文翻译：

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刺激控制取决于结果的主观价值。

提供有关可能的未来强化物的信息的刺激往往会改变行为，前提是可以区分刺激和强化物之间的可靠关系。显然更可靠的刺激对行为施加更大的控制。我们询问了与刺激相关的强化物的主观价值（以偏好衡量）如何影响刺激控制。五只鸽子同时进行连锁程序，其中一半的试验以较小的强化物结束，另一半则以较大的强化物结束。在有信号的试验中，初始链接中按键上的颜色和闪光持续时间表示试验的结果。在冲突探针试验中，颜色和闪光持续时间表示有关试验结果的相互矛盾的信息。信号试验中的选择转向信号结果，但从来没有排他性。在冲突的探测试验中，控制在 2 个刺激维度之间被特殊划分，但仍然有利于具有更高主观价值的结果。因此，刺激控制不仅取决于对刺激的感知可靠性，还取决于结果的主观价值。