Practice does not facilitate acquisition of McCollough effects: Evidence against a learning model

Previous investigators (Schmidt, Pinetts, & Finke, 1978) have asserted that McCollough effects (MEs) are acquired more readily by experienced than by inexperienced subjects. The present experiments examine this claim in a paradigm that utilizes quantitative measurements of MEs to evaluate possible changes in subjects’ susceptibility to them. MEs were induced every few days for approximately 2 months; results revealed no progressive increments in either strength or acquisition rats. The lack of facilitation due to practice is inconsistent with learning models proposed to account for MEs.