Spontaneous locomotor behavior of goldfish (Carassius Auratus) and lemon sharks (Negaprion Brevirostris) in response to different visual configurations.
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[College Station, Tex.] :
Scarfe,
1979.
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAKTrust copy Link to ProQuest copy |
| Abstract: | The volume of information that is rapidly accumulating, with the use of modem neurophysiological recording techniques, suggests that there are built-in recognition and coding systems within the visio-neural complexes of animals which react to critical features of any configuration (e.g. Hubei and Wiesel 1962). These features appear to be predominantly the horizontal, vertical and possibly oblique contours. These neurophysiological findings are in accord with the dominant theoretical models for configurational perception, recognition and discrimination (ie. Dodwell 1957; Sutherland 1957) that were postulated earlier as a result of the findings of phychophysical experimentation. In addition, from the first interpretations of visual mechanisms, up until the present time, it has been assumed that there is something distinctly inherent in the sensing of any visual configuration. The only truly innate behavior resulting from the perception of visual configurations has been described by the Tinbergian-Lorenzian school of ethology. Unfortunately, no study has been unequivocally demonstrated that any animal can, or does, respond to the essential features (ie. horizontal, vertical and/or oblique contours) of configurations, without prior training. This study utilized a 16 multiple choice circular tank, to electronically monitor the movements of goldfish and lemon sharks, naive to these conditions. The locomotor behavior of individual goldfish was monitored in response to these configuration types (fish-like silhouettes; silhouettes comprising of horizontal, vertical and oblique contours; and horizontal, vertical and oblique multiple bars), and their responses were described in terms of time-spent and number of entries into each condition. The behavioral reactions of lemon sharks to similar multiple bars was monitored in a similar larger system and their responses similarly described. ... |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | Vita. "Major subject: Zoology." |
| Physical Description: | xiv, 162 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-161). |