Toward a framework for the evaluation of feature binding in pigeons

Pigeons were trained in a new procedure to test for visual binding errors between the dimensions of color and shape. In Experiment 1, pigeons learned to discriminate a target compound from 15 non-target compounds (constructed from four colors and shapes) by choosing one of two hoppers in a two-hopper choice task. The similarity of the target to non-target stimuli influenced choice responding. In Experiment 2, pigeons learned to detect a target compound when presented with a non-target compound within the same trial under conditions of simultaneity and sequentiality. Non-target trials were arranged to allow for the testing of binding errors (i.e., false identifications of the target on certain non-target trials). Transient evidence for binding errors in two of the birds occurred at the start of two-item training, but decreased with training. The experiments represent an important step toward developing a framework for the evaluation of visual feature binding in nonhumans.