> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://manymanys.gitbook.io/mm1-lab-manual/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://manymanys.gitbook.io/mm1-lab-manual/method/experiment-overview.md).

# Experiment overview

The study employs a motor reversal learning task—a choice paradigm in which subjects physically select between stimuli to assess initial rule learning (acquisition) and the ability to flexibly update learned rules when contingencies change (reversal). The task manipulates cue type across three experimental conditions: location cue, shape cue, and color cue.

In each condition, subjects are tested across multiple trials. On each trial, subjects are simultaneously presented with two distinct stimuli positioned at two separate locations and make a choice by selecting one of the two stimuli. The cue type determines which stimulus dimension is relevant for obtaining reward. In the location cue condition, subjects must learn to associate the reward with a specific location (i.e., left or right) regardless of which stimulus occupies that location, making location the relevant dimension and stimulus identity (shape and color) irrelevant. In contrast, in the shape cue condition, subjects must learn to associate the reward with a particular shape regardless of its location, making shape identity the relevant dimension and location irrelevant (cues are identical in color in this condition). Similarly, in the color cue condition, subjects must learn to associate the reward with a particular color regardless of its location, making color identity the relevant dimension and location irrelevant (cues are identical in shape in this condition).

Each trial produces one of three mutually exclusive outcomes based on the subject’s choice behavior: (i) selecting the rewarded stimulus (designated as S+) results in the delivery of a reward (correct choice), (ii) selecting the unrewarded stimulus (designated as S−) results in no reward delivery (incorrect choice), or (iii) failing to select either stimulus within the maximum trial length results in no reward and triggers the initiation of a new trial (no choice; designated as NA).

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    A[Piloting and 
    walkthrough video] -->|Approval| B{Procedure}
    subgraph Main data collection
    B -->C[1. Acclimation 
    and Shaping]
    B -->D[2. Experimental
     conditions]
    D --->E[Location]
    D --->F[Shape]
    D --->G[Color]
    end

```


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