Bodily Kent D, Kilday Zachary A, Eastman Caroline K, Gaskin Katherine A, Graves April A, Roberts Jonathan E, Sturz Bradley R
Georgia Southern University, GA 30460, USA.
Behav Processes. 2013 Feb;93:71-81. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2012.09.017. Epub 2012 Oct 23.
In the reorientation literature, non-geometric cues include discrete objects (e.g., beacons) and surface-based features (e.g., colors, textures, and odors). To date, these types of non-geometric cues have been considered functionally similar, and it remains unknown whether beacons and surface features differentially influence the extent to which organisms reorient via global and local geometric cues. In the present experiment, we trained human participants to approach a location in a trapezoid-shaped enclosure uniquely specified by global and local geometric cues. We explored the role of beacons on the use of geometric cues by training participants in the presence or absence of uniquely-colored beacons. We explored the role of surface features on the use of geometric cues by recoloring two adjacent walls at the correct location and/or adding a line on the floor which corresponded to the major principal axis of the enclosure. All groups were then tested in novel-shaped enclosures in the absence of unique beacons and surface features to assess the relative use of global and local geometric cues. Results suggested that beacons facilitated the use of global geometric cues, whereas surface features either facilitated or hindered the use of geometric cues, depending on the feature.
在重新定向文献中，非几何线索包括离散物体（如信标）和基于表面的特征（如颜色、纹理和气味）。迄今为止，这些类型的非几何线索被认为在功能上相似，信标和表面特征是否会对生物体通过全局和局部几何线索进行重新定向的程度产生不同影响仍不清楚。在本实验中，我们训练人类参与者接近梯形围栏中一个由全局和局部几何线索唯一指定的位置。我们通过在有或没有独特颜色信标的情况下训练参与者，探讨了信标对几何线索使用的作用。我们通过在正确位置重新给相邻的两面墙上色和/或在地板上添加一条与围栏主轴线对应的线，探讨了表面特征对几何线索使用的作用。然后，所有组在没有独特信标和表面特征的新型围栏中进行测试，以评估全局和局部几何线索的相对使用情况。结果表明，信标促进了全局几何线索的使用，而表面特征根据其类型，要么促进要么阻碍了几何线索的使用。
