One of the most basic aspect of motion perception is the ability to discriminate moving objects from motionless ones. Perceptual limits in this ability, however, have only been determined in a handful of species, which does not include the dog. In this study, we used a modified method of limits to assess velocity thresholds of motion perception in dogs. Subjects (N = 6) underwent a two-alternative forced choice training, through which they learned to select a stationary random-dot display (S+), paired with a display of dots moving with a clear supra-threshold velocity (S-). Comparatively, dogs velocity detection thresholds are lower than those of other non-primate species, and possibly similar to those of non-human primates. The findings suggest that dogs’ visual system is particularly specialized for the perception of slow movement, which may reflect the dogs’ nature of distance-hunter.

Are dogs good at spotting movement? Velocity thresholds of motion detection in Canis familiaris

Lõoke, Miina;Kanizsar, Orsolya;Battaglini, Luca;Guerineau, Cécile;Mongillo, Paolo
;
Marinelli, Lieta
2020

Abstract

One of the most basic aspect of motion perception is the ability to discriminate moving objects from motionless ones. Perceptual limits in this ability, however, have only been determined in a handful of species, which does not include the dog. In this study, we used a modified method of limits to assess velocity thresholds of motion perception in dogs. Subjects (N = 6) underwent a two-alternative forced choice training, through which they learned to select a stationary random-dot display (S+), paired with a display of dots moving with a clear supra-threshold velocity (S-). Comparatively, dogs velocity detection thresholds are lower than those of other non-primate species, and possibly similar to those of non-human primates. The findings suggest that dogs’ visual system is particularly specialized for the perception of slow movement, which may reflect the dogs’ nature of distance-hunter.
2020
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Looke et al. 2020 Curr Zoo.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: accepted
Tipologia: Postprint (accepted version)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 227.8 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
227.8 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
zoaa044.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: https://academic.oup.com/cz/article/66/6/699/5896524
Tipologia: Published (publisher's version)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 136.77 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
136.77 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3348323
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 2
  • Scopus 4
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 4
  • OpenAlex ND
social impact