Derived asymmetric and transitive relations using the go/no‐go procedure with compound stimuli

Modenesi et al. (2026) taught seven college students to pick pictures using a go/no-go game. The screen showed two-part pictures, like a red circle above a blue square. Students learned which combos meant 'press' and which meant 'don't press'.

After the basics, the team tested if new picture pairs still controlled pressing. They wanted to see if the students could derive asymmetric and transitive relations without extra teaching.

Every student passed the trained pairs and then showed the untaught relations. The compound pictures alone guided correct go or no-go choices. No non-arbitrary warm-up was needed.

The results say go/no-go plus compound stimuli is enough to build derived relational responding in adults.

Ayres-Pereira et al. (2025) reviewed 36 prior go/no-go studies. Humans hit symmetry 87 % of the time but full equivalence only 59 %. The new study lands in the high-symmetry zone and adds cleaner transitive data.

Belisle et al. (2020) and Murphy et al. (2009) stretched the same logic to kids with autism. They used arbitrary 'bigger/smaller' or 'more/less' cues instead of compound pictures. Both found positive emergence, showing the procedure works outside the lab adult sample.

Bailey (2008) found symmetry in pigeons only under successive go/no-go. Modenesi et al. mirror that format with humans, backing the idea that successive responding, not species, drives the effect.

If you run equivalence training, you can now skip lengthy non-arbitrary prep. Use compound stimuli in a simple go/no-go game and test for derived relations right away. The format is fast, computer-friendly, and needs no extra toys. Try it when you want to check abstract relational skills in adults or older teens.