Functional lateralization, interhemispheric transfer and position bias in serial reversal learning in pigeons (Columba livia) |
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Authors: | B Diekamp H Prior O Güntürkün |
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Institution: | AE Biopsychologie, Fakult?t für Psychologie, GAFO 05/618, Ruhr-Universit?t Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany e-mail: bettina.diekamp@ruhr-uni-bochum.de, Tel.: +49-234-32-28213, Fax: +49-234-32-14377, DE
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Abstract: | In the present study we investigated lateralization of color reversal learning in pigeons. After monocular acquisition of
a simple color discrimination with either the left or right eye, birds were tested in a serial reversal procedure. While there
was only a slight and non-significant difference in choice accuracy during original color discrimination, a stable superiority
of birds using the right eye emerged in serial reversals. Both groups showed a characteristic ‘learning-to-learn’ effect,
but right-eyed subjects improved faster and reached a lower asymptotic error rate. Subsequent testing for interocular transfer
demonstrated a difference between pre- and post-shift choice accuracy in pigeons switching from right to left eye but not
vice versa. This can be accounted for by differences in maximum performance using either the left or right eye along with
an equally efficient but incomplete interocular transfer in both directions. Detailed analysis of the birds’ response patterns
during serial reversals revealed a preference for the right of two response keys in both groups. This bias was most pronounced
at the beginning of a session. It decreased within sessions, but became more pronounced in late reversals, thus indicating
a successful strategy for mastering the serial reversal task. Interocular transfer of response patterns revealed an unexpected
asymmetry. Birds switching from right to left eye continued to prefer the right side, whereas pigeons shifting from left to
right eye were now biased towards the left side. The results suggest that lateralized performance during reversal learning
in pigeons rests on a complex interplay of learning about individual stimuli, stimulus dimensions, and lateralized response
strategies.
Received: 4 June 1999 / Accepted after revision: 18 August 1999 |
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Keywords: | Birds Hemispheric asymmetries Interocular transfer Discrimination learning |
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