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Science 27 May 1977:
Vol. 196. no. 4293, pp. 1013 - 1014
DOI: 10.1126/science.860129
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Articles

Science, Vol 196, Issue 4293, 1013-1014
Copyright © 1977 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Visual search in the pigeon: hunt and peck method

DS Blough

Pigeons pecked at small forms displayed on an oscilloscope screen under computer control. The birds were required to find a small o amid varying numbers of x forms. A photocell glued to the bird's beak provided a signal to the computer when the beak approached a form, and the computer recorded the time and target of the response. As in some similar studies with human subjects, erros and reaction times increased with number of x forms displayed. The method appears promising for further studies of search and of other processes related to perception and information-processing in birds.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)