Symbol α

The passage around this formula

…strength states the update on each learning trial as $\Delta V = \alpha \,(\lambda - V)$. where V is the current associative strength between a stimulus and an outcome, $\lambda$ is the asymptotic strength that outcome supports, and $\alpha$ is a learning-rate parameter governing how much of the gap between the two is closed on a given trial. Preparedness theory’s defensible empirical content, on the evidence gathered across the last five sections, is that $\alpha$ is not one constant shared by every stimulus category — it runs…

Read this part in the article →