Pigeons fail to detect low-frequency magnetic fields

Moore, Bruce R.; Stanhope, Kelly J.; Wilcox, David J.

doi:10.3758/bf03204955

Cited by 15 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…These unmanipulated cues include the geometry of the room at large, notable features in the room (such as the observation window/door), magnetic cues, and inertial cues. It has been shown that birds use inertial cues (von St. Paul, 1982) and perhaps magnetic cues (Keeton, 1974), although the use of magnetic cues in laboratory settings has not been found (Alsop, 1987;Carman, Walker, & Lee, 1987;McIsaac & Kreithen, 1987;Moore, Stanhope, & Wilcox, 1987). Rats show evidence of using global geometry in determining direction (Cheng, 1986;Margules & Gallistel, 1988).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The determination of direction in landmark-based spatial search in pigeons: A further test of the vector sum model

Chen

1994

Animal Learning & Behavior

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In four experiments, pigeons were trained to find hidden food at a constant location with respect to one or two arrays of landmarks. On crucial tests, the birds were presented with conflicting cues associated with two different directions, which were 90°apart from the center of the search space at the same radial distance. The direction-averaging model predicts that the radial distance of search should not change on these tests, compared with radial distance of search on control tests without conflicting cues. The vector-averaging (vector sum) model predicts that when pigeons average the two conflicting cues, the radial distance of search should be shorter. Results support the directionaveraging model and suggest that distance and direction are independently computed in landmarkbased search. Multiple sources are averaged by pigeons in determining direction. 291 Many animals use visual landmarks to remember location and guide themselves back to a desired place. Some aspects of the spatial relationship between the target and surrounding landmarks are encoded and used to find the target again. Classic work by Tinbergen (1972) shows that the digger wasp uses landmarks placed around its nest to find the nest again. Tinbergen placed pine cones around a nest that a digger wasp had dug in the ground. While the wasp was away foraging, he displaced the pine cones. The digger wasp searched for her nest at the place where the displaced cones indicated that it should be. Since that study, many such landmark transformation experiments have been done to show that a variety of animals use landmarks to remember and find a place, including honeybees (

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The determination of direction in landmark-based spatial search in pigeons: A further test of the vector sum model

Chen

1994

Animal Learning & Behavior

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“…Kreithen & Keeton, 1974b ;Moore, Stanhope & Wilcox, 1987). The few exceptions to this pattern were seriously flawed (e.g.…”

Section: Homing and Navigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Elsewhere, at least 10 studies have shown that pigeons could not detect magnetic fields in laboratory settings (e.g. Kreithen & Keeton, 1974b ;Moore, Stanhope & Wilcox, 1987). The few exceptions to this pattern were seriously flawed (e.g.…”

Section: Homing and Navigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution of learning

Moore

2004

Biological Reviews

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135

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Most processes or forms of learning have been treated almost as special creations, each as an independent process unrelated to others. This review offers an evolutionary cladogram linking nearly one hundred forms of learning and showing the paths through which they evolved. Many processes have multiple forms. There are at least five imprinting processes, eleven varieties of Pavlovian conditioning, ten of instrumental conditioning, and eight forms of mimicry and imitation. Song learning evolved independently in at least six groups of animals, and movement imitation in three (great apes, cetaceans and psittacine birds). The cladogram also involves at least eight new processes: abstract concept formation, percussive mimicry, cross-modal imitation, apo-conditioning, hybrid conditioning, proto-pantomime, prosodic mimicry, and image-mediated learning. At least eight of the processes evolved from more than one source. Multiple sources are of course consistent with modern evolutionary theory, as seen in some obligate symbionts, and gene-swapping organisms. Song learning is believed to have evolved from two processes: auditory imprinting and skill learning. Many single words evolved from three sources: vocal mimicry, discrimination learning, and abstract concept formation.

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“…Hence the failure to obtain proper conditioned responses began to undermine the acceptance of magnetoreception in general. Guided by the firm 'belief' that 'we know of no case in which a proven exteroreceptive sensitivity has remained impossible to demonstrate clearly with conditioning techniques' [2], many neurobiologists questioned the ability of animals to perceive magnetic fields, which, in turn, delayed and still delays the analysis of the neuronal basis of this ability.…”

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confidence: 99%

Conditioning to magnetic directions

Wiltschko

2007

NeuroReport

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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.

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Pigeons fail to detect low-frequency magnetic fields

Cited by 15 publications

References 21 publications

The determination of direction in landmark-based spatial search in pigeons: A further test of the vector sum model

The determination of direction in landmark-based spatial search in pigeons: A further test of the vector sum model

The evolution of learning

Conditioning to magnetic directions

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