scholarly journals Is There Visual Lateralisation of the Sun Compass in Homing Pigeons?

Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Griffiths ◽  
Richard Holland ◽  
Anna Gagliardo
Keyword(s):  
Visual System ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Natural Setting ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Homing Pigeons ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Conflict Condition ◽  
The Right ◽  
Cue Conflict

Functional lateralisation in the avian visual system can be easily studied by testing monocularly occluded birds. The sun compass is a critical source of navigational information in birds, but studies of visual asymmetry have focussed on cues in a laboratory rather than a natural setting. We investigate functional lateralisation of sun compass use in the visual system of homing pigeons trained to locate food in an outdoor octagonal arena, with a coloured beacon in each sector and a view of the sun. The arena was rotated to introduce a cue conflict, and the experimental groups, a binocular treatment and two monocular treatments, were tested for their directional choice. We found no significant difference in test orientation between the treatments, with all groups showing evidence of both sun compass and beacon use, suggesting no complete functional lateralisation of sun compass use within the visual system. However, reduced directional consistency of binocular vs. monocular birds may reveal a conflict between the two hemispheres in a cue conflict condition. Birds using the right hemisphere were more likely to choose the intermediate sector between the training sector and the shifted training beacon, suggesting a possible asymmetry in favour of the left eye/right hemisphere (LE/RH) when integrating different cues.

scholarly journals Lateralization in monogamous pairs: wild geese prefer to keep their partner in the left hemifield except when disturbed

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmira Zaynagutdinova ◽  
Karina Karenina ◽  
Andrey Giljov
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Natural Setting ◽  
Intraspecific Interactions ◽  
Brain Hemispheres ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Anser Albifrons ◽  
Significant Bias ◽  
Visual Hemifield ◽  
The Right

Abstract Behavioural lateralization, which reflects the functional specializations of the two brain hemispheres, is assumed to play an important role in cooperative intraspecific interactions. However, there are few studies focused on the lateralization in cooperative behaviours of individuals, especially in a natural setting. In the present study, we investigated lateralized spatial interactions between the partners in life-long monogamous pairs. The male-female pairs of two geese species (barnacle, Branta leucopsis, and white-fronted, Anser albifrons geese), were observed during different stages of the annual cycle in a variety of conditions. In geese flocks, we recorded which visual hemifield (left/right) the following partner used to monitor the leading partner relevant to the type of behaviour and the disturbance factors. In a significant majority of pairs, the following bird viewed the leading partner with the left eye during routine behaviours such as resting and feeding in undisturbed conditions. This behavioural lateralization, implicating the right hemisphere processing, was consistent across the different aggregation sites and years of the study. In contrast, no significant bias was found in a variety of geese behaviours associated with enhanced disturbance (when alert on water, flying or fleeing away when disturbed, feeding during the hunting period, in urban area feeding and during moulting). We hypothesize that the increased demands for right hemisphere processing to deal with stressful and emergency situations may interfere with the manifestation of lateralization in social interactions.

The Initial Orientation of Homing Pigeons at the Magnetic Equator: Compass Mechanisms and the Effect of Applied Magnets

1991 ◽  
Vol 161 (1) ◽  
pp. 299-314
Author(s):  
RONALD RANVAUD ◽  
KLAUS SCHMIDT-KOENIG ◽  
JÖRG U. GANZHORN ◽  
JAKOB KIEPENHEUER ◽  
ODIVAL C. GASPAROTTO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Sensory System ◽  
Magnetic Equator ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Homing Pigeons ◽  
Directional Preference ◽  
Compass Mechanisms ◽  
Inclination Compass

Homing pigeons are thought to use the earth's magnetic field for direction finding. Though the sensory system and the characteristics of the magnetic field used are unknown, it can be hypothesized that pigeons have an inclination compass, as do some migratory birds. When released at the magnetic equator, this inclination compass ought to be suspended. In addition, releasing pigeons when the sun is at or very close to the zenith renders the sun compass inoperational. However, released under these conditions, homing pigeons are not disorientated. Though they vanish on average in a different direction from pigeons released when the sun compass is available, they still show a directional preference close to magnetic north. This directional preference could be disrupted in some years by the application of magnets to the pigeons' back. In other years this treatment as well as another magnetic treatment did not produce any difference between experimental pigeons and controls. These results confirm once more that, if magnetic effects exist, they are of a rather discrete nature.

Difference in Areas of the Brain for Fuzzy and Crisp Calculation

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Yamanoi ◽  
◽  
Masaaki Saito ◽  
Michio Sugeno ◽  
EIie Sanchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Type A ◽  
Peak Latency ◽  
Dipole Source ◽  
Type B ◽  
Current Dipole ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
The Right

We recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) by electroencephalography (EEG) during fuzzy and crisp calculation. Questions art divided into 2 types. As type A, questions were presented as sentences. Questions of type B were presented as numerical calculation. In type A, the peak latency of the EEG was around 1100ms. In type B, the peak latency was around 650ms. In type A, from multiple equivalent current dipole source localization (ECDL) around the latency, it followed that sources during fuzzy calculation lie in the right hemisphere and that sources during crisp calculation lie in the left hemisphere. In type B, no significant difference was observed.

Changes in the short-term deflector loft effect are linked to the sun compass of homing pigeons

1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry A. Waldvogel ◽  
John B. Phillips ◽  
A. Irene Brown
Keyword(s):  
The Sun ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Homing Pigeons

Experimental Simulation of a Haunt Experience and Elicitation of Paroxysmal Electroencephalographic Activity by Transcerebral Complex Magnetic Fields: Induction of a Synthetic “Ghost”?

2000 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 659-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Persinger ◽  
S. G. Tiller ◽  
S. A. Koren
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Experimental Simulation ◽  
Field Pattern ◽  
Natural Setting ◽  
Professional Musician ◽  
Physical Stimuli ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right ◽  
Electroencephalographic Activity

To test the hypothesis that experiences of apparitional phenomena with accompanying fear can be simulated within the laboratory, a 45-yr.-old Journalist and professional musician who had experienced a classic haunt four years previously was exposed to 1 microTesla, complex, transcerebral magnetic fields. Within 10 min. after exposure to a frequency-modulated pattern applied over the right hemisphere, the man reported “rushes of fear” that culminated in the experience of an apparition. Concurrent electroencephalographic measurements showed conspicuous 1-sec-to-2-sec. paroxysmal complex spikes (15 Hz) that accompanied the reports of fear. A second magnetic field pattern, applied bilaterally through the brain, was associated with pleasant experiences. The subject concluded that the synthetic experience of the apparition was very similar to the one experienced in the natural setting. The results of this experiment suggest that controlled simulation of these pervasive phenomena within the laboratory is possible and that this experimental protocol may help discern the physical stimuli that evoke their occurrence in nature.

scholarly journals Motor Symptom Lateralization Influences Cortico-Striatal Functional Connectivity in Parkinson's Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Su ◽  
Kai Li ◽  
Chun-Mei Li ◽  
Xin-Xin Ma ◽  
Hong Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Orbitofrontal Cortex ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Motor Symptom ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Right

Objective: The striatum is unevenly impaired bilaterally in Parkinson's disease (PD). Because the striatum plays a key role in cortico-striatal circuits, we assume that lateralization affects cortico-striatal functional connectivity in PD. The present study sought to evaluate the effect of lateralization on various cortico-striatal circuits through resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).Methods: Thirty left-onset Parkinson's disease (LPD) patients, 27 right-onset Parkinson's disease (RPD) patients, and 32 normal controls with satisfactory data were recruited. Their demographic, clinical, and neuropsychological information was collected. Resting-state fMRI was performed, and functional connectivity changes of seven subdivisions of the striatum were explored in the two PD groups. In addition, the associations between altered functional connectivity and various clinical and neuropsychological characteristics were analyzed by Pearson's or Spearman's correlation.Results: Directly comparing the LPD and RPD patients demonstrated that the LPD patients had lower FC between the left dorsal rostral putamen and the left orbitofrontal cortex than the RPD patients. In addition, the LPD patients showed aberrant functional connectivity involving several striatal subdivisions in the right hemisphere. The right dorsal caudate, ventral rostral putamen, and superior ventral striatum had decreased functional connectivity with the cerebellum and parietal and occipital lobes relative to the normal control group. The comparison between RPD patients and the controls did not obtain significant difference in functional connectivity. The functional connectivity between the left dorsal rostral putamen and the left orbitofrontal cortex was associated with contralateral motor symptom severity in PD patients.Conclusions: Our findings provide new insights into the distinct characteristics of cortico-striatal circuits in LPD and RPD patients. Lateralization of motor symptoms is associated with lateralized striatal functional connectivity.

Neural Correlates of Empathy for Physical and Psychological Pain

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Flasbeck ◽  
Martin Brüne
Keyword(s):  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Late Response ◽  
Psychological Pain ◽  
Person Perspective ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
The Right

Abstract. Empathy is known as the ability to share and understand someone else’s feelings. Previous research has either addressed the neural correlates of empathy for pain or social exclusion, but no study has examined empathy for physical and psychological (social) pain simultaneously. Forty-seven participants completed our novel “Social Interaction Empathy Task” during electroencephalogram (EEG) recording. Participants had to observe and rate the intensity of physical and psychological pain in social interactions from a first- and third-person perspective. At the behavioral level, subjects did not differentiate between the perspectives and rated physically painful scenarios as more painful than psychologically painful and neutral interactions. Psychologically painful pictures were also rated as more painful than neutral pictures. Analysis of event-related potentials (ERPs) revealed an early and a late response with a higher ERP response to physical and psychological pain compared to neutral interactions. Moreover, a significant difference emerged between the two dimensions of painful interactions. Furthermore, we found that the activity over frontal regions for discrimination of painful interactions was lateralized to the right hemisphere. Moreover, we detected significant correlations with the self-rated perspective taking ability. This suggests the psychological and physical pain qualities are processed differently but both are related to empathic traits. We further suggest that the right hemisphere may be specifically involved in the processing of empathy-related tasks.

Partial experience with the arc of the sun is sufficient for all-day sun compass orientation in homing pigeons, Columba livia

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (15) ◽  
pp. 2341-2348 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.A. Budzynski ◽  
F.C. Dyer ◽  
V.P. Bingman
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Homing Pigeons ◽  
Experimental Group

The ability of animals to learn to use the sun for orientation has been explored in numerous species. In birds, there is conflicting evidence about the experience needed for sun compass orientation to develop. The prevailing hypothesis is that birds need entire daytime exposure to the arc of the sun to use the sun as an orientation cue. However, there is also some evidence indicating that, even with limited exposure to the arc of the sun, birds, like insects, can use the sun to orient at any time of day. We re-examine this issue in a study of compass orientation in a cue-controlled arena. Two groups of young homing pigeons received different exposure to the sun. The control group experienced the sun throughout the day; the experimental group experienced only the apparent descent of the sun. After 8 weeks of sun exposure, we trained both groups in the afternoon to find food in a specific compass direction in an outdoor arena that provided a view of the sun but not landmarks. We then tested the pigeons in the morning for their ability to use the morning sun as an orientation cue. The control group and the experimental group, which was exposed to the morning sun for the first time, succeeded in orienting in the training direction during test 1. The orientation of the experimental group was no different from that of the control group, although the experimental first trial directional response latencies were greater than the control latencies. Subsequently, we continued training both groups in the afternoon and then tested the pigeons during the morning under complete cloud cover. Both groups displayed random directional responses under cloud cover, indicating that the observed orientation was based on the visibility of the sun. The data indicate that pigeons with limited exposure to the arc of the sun can, like insects, use the sun for orientation at any time of day.

Hippocampal lesion effects on learning strategies in homing pigeons

1996 ◽  
Vol 263 (1370) ◽  
pp. 529-534 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Hippocampal Lesion ◽  
Food Reward ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Homing Pigeons ◽  
Directional Information ◽  
Intact Control ◽  
Hippocampal Lesions ◽  
Clock Shift

Several studies have shown that birds have a directional view of space and tend to use the sun compass over landmark beacons when both are available. Intact homing pigeons can use either the sun compass or colour beacons to locate a food reward, whereas pigeons with hippocampal lesions are unable to use the sun compass, but quickly learn to use colour beacons. We trained hippocampal ablated and intact pigeons to find a reward in an outdoor octagonal arena when both sun compass information (directional cues) and intramaze landmark beacons (colour cues) were available. The intact control pigeons learned the task by preferentially relying on directional cues while effectively ignoring the colour beacons. The behaviour of the hippocampal ablated birds, based on a clock-shift manipulation and after the rotation of the colour beacons, showed that they learned to locate the food reward in the arena only on the basis of the landmark beacons, ignoring the sun compass directional information.

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