Scalar effects in the visual discrimination of numerosity by pigeons |
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Authors: | Jacky Emmerton Jennifer C Renner |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, 703 Third Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2081, USA |
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Abstract: | Pigeons trained in a conditional discrimination procedure to respond to a visual array made a left or right choice, depending
on which of two numbers of elements (i.e., anchor numerosities) the array contained. They were then tested with novel arrays
at these anchor numerosities, as well as at interpolated and extrapolated numerosities. Various control conditions showed
that the birds’ discrimination performance was primarily based on stimulus numerosity, and not on other factors, such as brightness
or area. Results from a series of tests, spanning a wide range of numerosities, conformed to scalar principles. Psychometric
functions showed superposition, indicating that Weber’s law applies to numerosity discrimination. The subjective midpoint
between anchor values was at the geometric mean. Variability about this bisection point increased in proportion to the numerical
value of the mean. |
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Keywords: | |
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