Stimulus Control of the Pigeon's Ability to Peck a Moving Target

Abstract

Two pigeons were trained to peck whichever of eight keys displayed a white field (SD). The other seven keys displayed a white "X" on a black background (SA). Each peck to SD produced three-second access to grain, a three-second intertrial interval (ITI), and the next trial. Pecks to SA produced a three-second timeout (TO) and the same trial. During later sessions the key displaying SD changed every t seconds (t=3, 2, 1, .5, and .25 sec), requiring the birds to track the position of the SD. Pecks on a ninth key increased t. Several sessions employed novel stimuli to ascertain the controlling stimulus dimensions. Both birds made few errors acquiring the original discrimination. During the tracking sessions, both birds made few errors when t=.5 sec. Only one reliably lengthened t. Data from sessions with novel stimuli indicate that color and form were important aspects of SD and SA respectively; movement contributed to the final performance.

Discrimination of coherent and incoherent motion by pigeons: An investigation using a same-different motion discrimination task

“…Laboratory studies have found that pigeons can: (1) discriminate the velocity of visual stimuli (Hodos et al, 1975;Mulvanny, 1978;Siegel, 1970), (2) track moving targets (Pisacreta, 1982;Rilling and LaClaire, 1989;Wilkie, 1986), and (3) discriminate complex motion such as Lissajous figures (Emmerton, 1986), rotating spiral patterns (Martinoya and Delius, 1990), and images of a clock hand moving at a constant velocity (Neiworth and Rilling, 1987).…”

Recognition of moving video images of conspecifics by pigeons: Effects of individuals, static and dynamic motion cues, and movement

“…Pigeons are known to be able to discriminate the velocity ofvisual stimuli (Hodos, Smith, & Bonbright, 1975;Mulvanny, 1978;Siegel, 1970), to track moving targets (Pisacreta, 1982;Rilling & LaClaire, 1989;Wilkie, 1986), and to discriminate complex motions such as Lissajous figures (Emmerton, 1986), rotating spiral patterns (Martinoya & Delius, 1990), and images ofa clock hand stimulus moving at a constant velocity (Neiworth & Rilling, 1987). The previous findings suggest that pigeons would be able to discriminate motions in video scenes.…”

Motion as a Natural Category for Pigeons: Generalization and a Feature‐positive Effect

“…since the original study of Herrnstein and Loveland (1964), little or none has concentrated on the perception and categorization of moving stimuli. Sporadic efforts have been made to study pigeons' ability to perceive motion displays, mainly in the context of velocity discrimination (Hodos, Smith, & Bonbright, 1975;Mulvanny, 1978;Siegel, 1970) or tracking (Pisacreta, 1982;Rilling & LaClaire, 1989;Wilkie, 1986). These studies demonstrate that pigeons can discriminate different velocities and track moving targets, but the strategy and behavioral basis of the birds' response are still unknown (Wilkie, 1986).…”