Shape and texture biases in dogs' generalization of trained objects.

ABSTRACT: Shape bias, the tendency to link the meaning of words to the shape of objects, is a widely investigated phenomenon, but the extent to which it is linked to vocabulary acquisition and/or to tool using is controversial. Understanding how non-human animals generalize the properties of objects can provide insights into the evolutionary processes and cognitive mechanisms that influence this bias. We investigated object generalization in dogs, focusing on their tendency to attend to shape or texture in a two-way choice task. We analyzed data of thirty-five dogs that were successfully trained to discriminate a target object among distractors and retrieve it to their owner. In subsequent testing, dogs chose between objects similar to the target in either shape or texture. Results showed that dogs

SUBMITTER: Fugazza C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11564508 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature