Pigeons encode absolute distance but relational direction from landmarks and walls

Area of Science:

• Comparative cognition
• Animal spatial navigation

Background:

• Animals navigate using absolute or relational distances to locate goals.
• Landmark arrays typically elicit absolute distance strategies, while enclosures favor relational strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate pigeons' spatial strategies in finding a hidden goal using landmark arrays versus enclosure walls.
• To determine if pigeons rely on absolute or relational distances and external cues for navigation.

Main Methods:

• Pigeons were trained to locate the center of a landmark array or a set of short walls.
• Expansion and rotational tests were conducted to assess spatial strategy and directional learning.

Main Results:

• Both groups of pigeons predominantly employed an absolute distance strategy.
• Pigeons in the array group maintained search in the array's center during rotational tests.

Conclusions:

• Pigeons utilize absolute distance strategies in both landmark array and enclosure scenarios.
• Directional learning appears tied to the landmark array itself, not external environmental cues.