Visual discrimination in sharks without optic tectum.
After complete removal of the optic tectum, nurse sharks can learn to discriminate black versus white and horizontal versus vertical stripes. This finding is contrary to the traditional belief of exclusive tectal control over visuomotor behavior in lower vertebrates and suggests a role for the telencephalon in the vision of these primitive animals.
D000818:Animals; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005556:Form Perception; D011930:Reaction Time; D012201:Reward; D012754:Sharks; D003336:Tectum Mesencephali / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception