40 



John B. Calhoun 



Let us assume that when .4 and B meet there is some interaction between 

 A and B. That is, A responds to B and B responds to ^. At the same time, 

 each emits a signal. If such chance contact occurs frequently enough there 

 exists the opportunity of each individual associating the other with the 

 signal emitted at the time of interaction. Furthermore, we may assume that 

 learning is enhanced by other factors of the environment being constant 



CONCERNING THE LEARNING OF SIGNALS 



0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 



er DISTANCE FROM As H.R.C. 



3.0 



Fig. 17. Concerning the learning of signals. Not unless home range centers are 

 3 sigma or less apart will there be a single point of most probable contact of two animals 

 meeting by chance. This point lies halfway between the line connecting the two home 

 range centers. The closer home range centers approach, the higher will be the proba- 

 bility of chance contact and thus the more likely the association of any simultaneous 

 signal with the consequences of meeting. 



at the time of interaction. When home range centers are more than 3 

 sigma apart, the two points of greatest probability of contact are separated 

 from each other and therefore are unlikely to have identical surroundings. 

 This nonidentity of surroundings, that is the absence of identical secondary 

 reinforcers, may be expected to retard learning. 



However, at a 3-sigma interval between home range centers, there is 

 only a single point of greatest probability of contact; thus, at this inter- 

 vening distance between home range centers there is not only an increased 



