Minimization of modal contours: an essential cross-species strategy in disambiguating relative depth |
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Authors: | Björn Forkman Giorgio Vallortigara |
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Institution: | (1) Division of Environment and Welfare, Roslin Institute, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9PS, UK, GB;(2) Department of Psychology, University of Trieste, via dell’Università 7, I 34123 Trieste, Italy, IT |
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Abstract: | Two chromatically identical patterns, a diamond and a ladder, were shown on a computer touchscreen. Domestic hens were reinforced
for pecking at the pattern that was the highest up on a grid that provided pictorial depth information, i.e. on the pattern
that to a human appears as being the furthest away. Every tenth trial was a non-rewarded probe trial with the two patterns
partially overlapping. In the absence of other cues depth stratification can occur on the basis of a minimization of interpolated
occluding contours. In humans the diamond is usually perceived to be in front of the ladder because shorter interpolated contours
are needed to account for the occlusive effect of the diamond on the ladder. The hens pecked more often at the ladder during
the probe trials. The results suggest that the avian and mammalian visual systems operate along similar principles when dealing
with the problem of solving occlusion indeterminacy in chromatically homogeneous patterns.
Received: 26 March 1999 / Accepted after revision: 17 September 1999 |
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Keywords: | Occlusion Petter’ s rule Chicken Perception |
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