Technical Restrictions of Computer‐Manipulated Visual Stimuli and Display Units for Studying Animal Behaviour

Baldauf, Sebastian A.; Kullmann, Harald; Bakker, Theo C. M.

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2008.01520.x

Cited by 35 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…All that said, there are currently no prescriptions for the proper video equipment to insure successful experimental demonstrations of correspondence between pictures and objects in birds. The topic is intensely complicated (see Baldauf., Kullmann, & Bakker, 2008) and currently only careful testing for correspondence can ensure that birds are seeing the designated objects in pictures.…”

Section: Is There a Recipe For Correspondence?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining When Birds Perceive Correspondence Between Pictures and Objects: A Critique.

Weisman¹,

Spetch²

2010

CCBR

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The use of pictures in avian visual cognition research has expanded over the past few decades but understanding of how birds perceive pictures has not kept pace. Separate evolutionary pathways and distinct differences in existent avian and mammalian visual systems mean that researchers cannot assume that birds see pictures the way humans do. In this article, the authors argue that, to avoid anthropomorphic errors, researchers need empirical evidence about correspondence between perception of their picture stimuli and perception of objects. The authors review a few promising instances of correspondence. The authors further argue that closer attention should be paid to characteristics of display methodologies and their appropriateness for avian vision. Finally, they argue that the field will benefit if journal reviewers and editors provide more useful guidance to researchers about adding evidence of correspondence between the pictures and the real-life objects researchers claim or imply that their pictures represent.

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Section: Is There a Recipe For Correspondence?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining When Birds Perceive Correspondence Between Pictures and Objects: A Critique.

Weisman¹,

Spetch²

2010

CCBR

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“…Computer-animated images have recently emerged as a powerful tool to investigate fish behavior by administering controlled stimuli [34],[35],[36],[37],[38],[39]. The use of computer animations allows for the isolation of specific visual cues from potential confounds arising from auditory, electrical, flow, and chemical confounds while offering a precise, consistent, inexpensive, high-throughput, and easily manageable non-invasive methodology to investigate fish behavior [39], especially when coupled with automated video tracking [40],[41].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) Preference and Behavioral Response to Animated Images of Conspecifics Altered in Their Color, Aspect Ratio, and Swimming Depth

2013

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Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) is an example of a freshwater fish species whose remarkable diffusion outside its native range has led to it being placed on the list of the world’s hundred worst invasive alien species (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Here, we investigate mosquitofish shoaling tendency using a dichotomous choice test in which computer-animated images of their conspecifics are altered in color, aspect ratio, and swimming level in the water column. Pairs of virtual stimuli are systematically presented to focal subjects to evaluate their attractiveness and the effect on fish behavior. Mosquitofish respond differentially to some of these stimuli showing preference for conspecifics with enhanced yellow pigmentation while exhibiting highly varying locomotory patterns. Our results suggest that computer-animated images can be used to understand the factors that regulate the social dynamics of shoals of Gambusia affinis. Such knowledge may inform the design of control plans and open new avenues in conservation and protection of endangered animal species.

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“…A significant amount of attention has been given to the use of such units for conducting behavioral experiments, and so we recommend that readers consult this literature for the relevant information regarding how to calibrate displays for color, luminance, flicker, motion, and other attributes (see for example Baldauf et al 2008;D'Eath 1998;Fleishman et al 1998;Fleishman and Endler 2000). It is also important to note that though many of the criticisms aimed at the use of display units have stemmed from their use for animals with very different visual systems from our own, (e.g.…”

Section: Designing Stimuli For Behavioral Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studying Primate Color: Towards Visual System-dependent Methods

2009

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Primates exhibit a striking diversity of colors and patterns in their pelage and skin markings, used in functions as diverse as camouflage to sexual signaling. In studying primate colors, it is important to adopt approaches not based on human assessment wherever possible, and that preferably take account of the visual system of the appropriate receiver(s). Here, we outline some of the main techniques for recording the colors exhibited and encountered by primates, including the use of digital photography and reflectance spectrometry. We go on to discuss the main approaches for analyzing the data obtained, including those not linked to a particular visual system, such as direct analyses of reflectance spectra. We argue that researchers should strive for analyses based on the visual system of the relevant receiver, and outline some of the main modeling approaches that can be used, such as color space and discrimination threshold modeling. By analyzing color measures with respect to specific visual systems, field studies can link behavioral ecology to the visual and cognitive sciences, and move toward descriptions of signal information content that incorporate elements of receiver psychology. This in turn should lead to a greater understanding of the detection and interpretation of signals by receivers, and hence their likely use in decision making.

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Technical Restrictions of Computer‐Manipulated Visual Stimuli and Display Units for Studying Animal Behaviour

Cited by 35 publications

References 74 publications

Determining When Birds Perceive Correspondence Between Pictures and Objects: A Critique.

Determining When Birds Perceive Correspondence Between Pictures and Objects: A Critique.

Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) Preference and Behavioral Response to Animated Images of Conspecifics Altered in Their Color, Aspect Ratio, and Swimming Depth

Studying Primate Color: Towards Visual System-dependent Methods

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