Perceptual grouping in pigeons.
Animal studies reveal that many species perceive partially occluded objects in the same way as do humans. Pigeons have been a notable exception. We re-investigated this anomaly of pigeon perception using a different approach from previous studies. With our method, we show that pigeons perceive occluded objects in the same manner as do other species. In addition, we report that pigeons can recognize perceptually transparent surfaces when the effect is induced by the same perceptual mechanisms as occlusion. These results give behavioral evidence that the perception of both occlusion and transparency is a common visual function shared by pigeons and humans, despite the structural differences between their visual systems.
Department of Psychology, Rikkyo University, 3 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima city, Tokyo 171-8501, Japan. yasuo-nagasaka@uiowa.edu
Yasuo
Y
Nagasaka
Koji
K
Hori
Yoshihisa
Y
Osada
D000818:Animals; D010856:Columbidae / Q000502:physiology*; D003867:Depth Perception / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D010466:Perceptual Closure / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*