Abstract
Stereokinetic illusions have never been investigated in non-human primates, nor in other mammalian species. These illusions consist in the perception of a 3D solid object when certain 2D stimuli are rotated slowly in the plane perpendicular to the line of sight. The ability to perceive the stereokinetic illusion was investigated in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Four adult marmosets were trained to discriminate between a solid cylinder and a solid cone for food reward. Once learning criterion was reached, the marmosets were tested in sets of eight probe trials in which the two solid objects used at training were replaced by two rotating 2D stimuli. Only one of these stimuli produced, at least to the human observer, the stereokinetic illusion corresponding to the solid object previously reinforced. At test, the general behaviour and the total time spent by the marmosets observing each stimulus were recorded. The subjects stayed longer near the stimulus producing the stereokinetic illusion corresponding to the solid object reinforced at training than they did near the illusion corresponding to the previously non-rewarded stimulus. Hence, the common marmosets behaved as if they could perceive stereokinetic illusions.
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Acknowledgements
This research was carried out during a 10-month research period spent by E.C. at the University of New England, and she is grateful for support given by an Endeavour Australian-Europe Award from the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) and to funding from the Faculty of Science at the University of New England. Research costs were funded by an Australian Research Council grant to L.J.R. No invasive procedures were used and the experimental and housing conditions of the marmosets were in accordance with the principles and regulations of the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (1997) and approved by the Animal Ethics Committee at the University of New England.
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Clara, E., Regolin, L., Vallortigara, G. et al. Perception of the stereokinetic illusion by the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Anim Cogn 10, 135–140 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-006-0046-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-006-0046-3