Do Domestic Dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris</i>) Perceive Numerosity Illusions?
Recent studies have showed that domestic dogs are only scantly susceptible to visual illusions, suggesting that the perceptual mechanisms might be different in humans and dogs. However, to date, none of these studies have utilized illusions that are linked to quantity discrimination. In the current...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2304 |
| _version_ | 1797545711455174656 |
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| author | Miina Lõoke Lieta Marinelli Carla Jade Eatherington Christian Agrillo Paolo Mongillo |
| author_facet | Miina Lõoke Lieta Marinelli Carla Jade Eatherington Christian Agrillo Paolo Mongillo |
| author_sort | Miina Lõoke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent studies have showed that domestic dogs are only scantly susceptible to visual illusions, suggesting that the perceptual mechanisms might be different in humans and dogs. However, to date, none of these studies have utilized illusions that are linked to quantity discrimination. In the current study, we tested whether dogs are susceptible to a linear version of the Solitaire illusion, a robust numerosity illusion experienced by most humans. In the first experiment, we tested dogs’ ability to discriminate items in a 0.67 and 0.75 numerical ratio. The results showed that dogs’ quantity discrimination abilities fall in between these two ratios. In Experiment 2, we presented the dogs with the Solitaire illusion pattern using a spontaneous procedure. No evidence supporting any numerosity misperception was found. This conclusion was replicated in Experiment 3, where we manipulated dogs’ initial experience with the stimuli and their contrast with the background. The lack of dogs’ susceptibility to the Solitaire illusion suggests that numerical estimation of dogs is not influenced by the spatial arrangement of the items to be enumerated. In view of the existing evidence, the effect may be extended to dogs’ quantitative abilities at large. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:18:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f585587c198f43c5a0c996350a2cd1a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:18:59Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-f585587c198f43c5a0c996350a2cd1a92023-11-20T23:35:06ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-12-011012230410.3390/ani10122304Do Domestic Dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris</i>) Perceive Numerosity Illusions?Miina Lõoke0Lieta Marinelli1Carla Jade Eatherington2Christian Agrillo3Paolo Mongillo4Laboratory of Applied Ethology, Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Piazzetta del Donatore, 4, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyLaboratory of Applied Ethology, Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Piazzetta del Donatore, 4, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyLaboratory of Applied Ethology, Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Piazzetta del Donatore, 4, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDepartment of General Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, ItalyLaboratory of Applied Ethology, Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Piazzetta del Donatore, 4, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyRecent studies have showed that domestic dogs are only scantly susceptible to visual illusions, suggesting that the perceptual mechanisms might be different in humans and dogs. However, to date, none of these studies have utilized illusions that are linked to quantity discrimination. In the current study, we tested whether dogs are susceptible to a linear version of the Solitaire illusion, a robust numerosity illusion experienced by most humans. In the first experiment, we tested dogs’ ability to discriminate items in a 0.67 and 0.75 numerical ratio. The results showed that dogs’ quantity discrimination abilities fall in between these two ratios. In Experiment 2, we presented the dogs with the Solitaire illusion pattern using a spontaneous procedure. No evidence supporting any numerosity misperception was found. This conclusion was replicated in Experiment 3, where we manipulated dogs’ initial experience with the stimuli and their contrast with the background. The lack of dogs’ susceptibility to the Solitaire illusion suggests that numerical estimation of dogs is not influenced by the spatial arrangement of the items to be enumerated. In view of the existing evidence, the effect may be extended to dogs’ quantitative abilities at large.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2304quantitydognumerical cognitiongestaltillusionvision |
| spellingShingle | Miina Lõoke Lieta Marinelli Carla Jade Eatherington Christian Agrillo Paolo Mongillo Do Domestic Dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris</i>) Perceive Numerosity Illusions? Animals quantity dog numerical cognition gestalt illusion vision |
| title | Do Domestic Dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris</i>) Perceive Numerosity Illusions? |
| title_full | Do Domestic Dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris</i>) Perceive Numerosity Illusions? |
| title_fullStr | Do Domestic Dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris</i>) Perceive Numerosity Illusions? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do Domestic Dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris</i>) Perceive Numerosity Illusions? |
| title_short | Do Domestic Dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris</i>) Perceive Numerosity Illusions? |
| title_sort | do domestic dogs i canis lupus familiaris i perceive numerosity illusions |
| topic | quantity dog numerical cognition gestalt illusion vision |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2304 |
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