Nonmonotonic Extrapolation in Function Learning.

This article reports the results of an experiment addressing extrapolation in function learning, in particular the issue of whether participants can extrapolate in a nonmonotonic manner. Existing models of function learning, including the extrapolation association model of function learning (EXAM; E. L. DeLosh, J. R. Busemeyer, & M. A. McDaniel, 1997), cannot account for this type of extrapolation pattern. We present the results of an experiment in which participants were shown a series of paired stimulus-response magnitudes where the relationship between these 2 dimensions conformed to a cyclic function. Participants were shown to extrapolate from these training data in a nonmonotonic way, contrary to predictions from EXAM. A new model of function learning is presented, which predicts responses more accurately than EXAM.