Pigeons' (Columba livia) encoding of geometric and featural properties of a spatial environment.

Abstract

Pigeons (Columba livia) searched for hidden food in a rectangular environment constructed to eliminate external orientation cues. A feature group was initially trained with distinct features in each corner. A geometric group was initially trained with no featural information. Tests revealed that both groups encoded the geometry of the apparatus. The geometric group was then retrained with features, and a series of tests was administered to both groups. Transformation tests revealed that the groups differed in reliance on features versus geometry. Pigeons in the feature group followed the positive feature even when it was placed in a geometrically incorrect corner, whereas pigeons in the geometric group showed shared control by features and geometry. Both groups were able to use features in corners distant to the goal to orient themselves, and both groups relied more on the color than on the shape of the features. Survival within an environment frequently requires efficient processing of spatial information. Spatial abilities underlie activities that are critical for the individual (e.g., establishment of lodging, avoidance of predation, and attainment of nourishment) and for a species (e.g., migratory behavior or reproduction); these activities may involve a variety of mechanisms. Navigation, for example, may be achieved through inertial guidance, orientation to a beacon, piloting by use of landmarks, or developing a spatial representation of the environment (Gallistel, 1990). Questions concerning which aspects of an environment are encoded and used in navigation have been addressed in recent research (for reviews, see Cheng & Spetch, 1998; Gallistel, 1990; and Poucet, 1993). Many studies have shown that animals can encode and use multiple sources of information to locate a goal (e.g., Spetch & Edwards, 1988) and that the primacy of control by different sources of information may differ according to context (e.g., Strasser & Bingman, 1996) or species (e.g., Brodbeck, 1994). One particularly interesting set of results has emerged from studies that have controlled and manipulated the information available for encoding by restricting access to navigational cues in an enclosed environment and by disrupting other positional cues through disorientation techniques (Cheng,

Reorientation in a Two-Dimensional Environment: I. Do Adults Encode the Featural and Geometric Properties of a Two-Dimensional Schematic of a Room?

“…This result supports and extends previous studies showing that encoding of geometric information is not overshadowed by the featural cues (e.g., Hayward, McGregor, Good, & Pearce, 2003;Kelly et al, 1998;Vallortigara et al, 1990). Previous studies have shown that several animals, including humans, will readily encode the geometric properties of a 3-D environment (e.g., humans: Hermer & Spelke, 1994birds: Kelly et al, 1998;Vallortigara et al, 1990;and fish: Sovrano et al, 2002).…”

Absence of overshadowing between a landmark and geometric cues in a distinctively shaped environment: A test of Miller and Shettleworth (2007).

“…This effect has also been revealed in a rectangular arena with pigeons (Kelly, Spetch, and Heth, 1998). Other studies have shown with rats (Cheng, 1986), goldfish (Sovrano, Bisazza, & Vallortigara, 2003), chicks (Tommasi & Vallortigara, 2003) and monkeys (Gouteux, Thinus--Blanc, & Vauclair, 2001) that the presence of a landmark does not prevent animals making use of geometric cues to find a hidden goal.…”

Is there an innate geometric module? Effects of experience with angular geometric cues on spatial re-orientation based on the shape of the environment

“…the colour of a wall) in order to reorient themselves [e.g. Wsh: redtail splitWns (Xenotoca eiseni): Sovrano et al 2002Sovrano et al , 2003goldWsh (Carassius auratus) : Vargas et al 2004; birds: chicks (Gallus gallus): Vallortigara et al 1990Vallortigara et al , 2004pigeons (Columba livia) : Kelly et al 1998;Vargas et al 2004a;mammals: rhesus monkeys: Gouteux et al 2001;tamarins: Deipolyi et al 2001]. Interestingly, however, a "primacy" of geometric information seems to be apparent in spatial reorientation.…”

“…Interestingly, however, a "primacy" of geometric information seems to be apparent in spatial reorientation. When animals are trained in the presence of conspicuous local, non-geometric cues, such as panels located at the corners of a rectangular enclosure, and subsequently tested after removal of these featural cues, their behaviour usually reveals that spontaneous encoding of geometric information has occurred, in spite of the fact that featural information alone suYced for spatial reorientation during training (chicks: Vallortigara et al 1990; pigeons: Kelly et al 1998;Wsh: Sovrano et al 2003).…”