Time as a context stimulus in extinction learning with pigeons (Columba livia)

In this experiment we want to investigate whether time can become a context in an ABA extinction learning paradigm. Usually visual stimuli are used as contexts in behavioral experiments, recent research (Peschken et al., 2025) showed that even in the visual domain, differences in the success of learning contrasting contexts become apparent. We want to explore if other sensible stimuli (the passage of time) can be subconsciously incorporated into a context plan. Pigeons will learn that new stimuli are associated with a reward in an established behavioral experiment, extinguish them in a different context and will then be tested in the original context (Packheiser et al., 2019; Peschken et al., 2025). The context here is a delay of one (A) or four (B) seconds during every trial. The results of the experimental sessions will be compared within-subject against control sessions that follow an AAA-plan.