Journal article
Categorization of Photographic Images by Rats Using Shape-Based Image Dimensions
Journal of experimental psychology. Animal behavior processes, Vol.39(1), pp.85-92
01/2013
DOI: 10.1037/a0030404
PMID: 23316977
Abstract
Strong interest exists in developing a rodent model of visual cognition to conduct research into the neural mechanisms of visual categorization. Yet, doubt remains as to whether rats perform visual categorization tasks as do humans and nonhuman primates. Here, we trained eight rats on two visual categorization tasks using photographs of eight objects from each of four basic-level categories: chairs, flowers, cars, and humans. In Experiment 1, rats learned to categorize chairs versus flowers; in Experiment 2, rats learned to categorize cars versus humans. After rats learned each discrimination, we tested them with eight novel pictures from each of the categories. The rats performed at reliably above-chance levels during these generalization tests. To determine which dimension(s) of the stimuli controlled the rats' behavior, we conducted regression analyses using several image dimensions. The chair versus flower discrimination was mainly controlled by the convexity of the stimuli, whereas the car versus human discrimination was mainly controlled by the aspect ratio of the stimuli. These results demonstrate that rats can categorize complex visual objects using shape-based properties of photographs.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Categorization of Photographic Images by Rats Using Shape-Based Image Dimensions
- Creators
- Daniel I Brooks - Department of Neuroscience, Brown UniversityKa H Ng - Department of Psychology, University of IowaEric W Buss - Department of Neuroscience, Rush University Medical CenterAndrew T Marshall - Department of Psychology, Kansas State UniversityJohn H Freeman - Department of Psychology, University of IowaEdward A Wasserman - Department of Psychology, University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of experimental psychology. Animal behavior processes, Vol.39(1), pp.85-92
- DOI
- 10.1037/a0030404
- PMID
- 23316977
- NLM abbreviation
- J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process
- ISSN
- 0097-7403
- eISSN
- 1939-2184
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2013
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984065755102771
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