Conditioning to magnetic directions

Abstract

In neurobiology, psychology and sensory physiology, operant conditioning is a valuable tool for gaining access to the sensory world of animals. Conditioning experiments have revealed features of the capacity to detect sensory qualities, such as thresholds, range and the ability to discriminate, and have explored the functional mode of sensory mechanisms, the neuronal pathways and the areas of the brain involved. Our knowledge of the visual and auditory sensitivity of animals is largely based on conditioning experiments. With regard to the sensitivity for the geomagnetic field, the situation is different. Although spontaneous responses of migratory birds and homing pigeons clearly indicated that these animals are sensitive to the geomagnetic field [1], attempts at conditioning largely failed, with the negative results outnumbering the few positive ones. Many neurobiologists have more trust in conditioning experiments, in which responses can be elicited at will, than in spontaneous behavior that occurs only during certain times of the year or in certain conditions.

Dogs can be trained to find a bar magnet

“…Generally, studies of magnetoreception using the paradigm of operant conditioning on magnetic cues are challenging (Freire & Birch, 2010; Madden & Phillips, 1987; Wiltschko & Wiltschko, 2007) because the animals have difficulties establishing a cognitive link between the task and the magnetic cue, which is presumably relevant in a different context (e.g., spatial orientation). For this reason, and because we performed no problem-solving tasks whose solution led to a direct reward, we had to monitor the dogs’ mood and fatigue constantly.…”