Cite as:
Kramer J, Aust U, Steurer M, Huber L, 2007, "Perception of rotating objects by pigeons" Perception 36 ECVP Abstract Supplement

Perception of rotating objects by pigeons

J Kramer, U Aust, M Steurer, L Huber

It has been suggested that dynamic change of perspective helps to integrate individual views of an object into 3-D images. Here, we investigated whether the ability of pigeons to discriminate virtual dynamic computer-generated 2-D projections of 3-D objects was primarily based on the use of generalized 3-D representations of them. Pigeons were first trained in a go/no-go procedure to discriminate between projections of a cube and a pyramid, presented as static or dynamically rotating around different axes. When the pigeons had acquired the discrimination, they were subjected to a series of transfer tests with new modified projections, involving diverse featural and rotational transformations. In contrast to a study by Cook and Katz (1999 Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes 25 194 - 210) who used a similar experimental design, we found almost no indication of a 'dynamic superiority effect', ie discrimination performance was not improved by dynamic as compared to static presentation. The results suggest that discrimination may have been based on stored 2-D featural information rather than on object-like 3-D images.

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