Object representation in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): integration of visual and echoic information

J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process. 1996 Apr;22(2):164-74. doi: 10.1037//0097-7403.22.2.164.

Abstract

A dolphin performed a 3-alternative matching-to-sample task in different modality conditions (visual/echoic, both vision and echolocation: visual, vision only; echoic, echolocation only). In Experiment 1, training occurred in the dual-modality (visual/echoic) condition. Choice accuracy in tests of all conditions was above chance without further training. In Experiment 2, unfamiliar objects with complementary similarity relations in vision and echolocation were presented in single-modality conditions until accuracy was about 70%. When tested in the visual/echoic condition, accuracy immediately rose (95%), suggesting integration across modalities. In Experiment 3, conditions varied between presentation of sample and alternatives. The dolphin successfully matched familiar objects in the cross-modal conditions. These data suggest that the dolphin has an object-based representational system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dolphins
  • Echolocation*
  • Female
  • Learning / physiology
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Visual Pathways / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology*