Rapid technical advances in the field of computeropened new avenues in animal behavior research.animation （CA） and virtual reality （VR） haveAnimated stimuli are powerful tools as theyoffer standardization, repeata...Rapid technical advances in the field of computeropened new avenues in animal behavior research.animation （CA） and virtual reality （VR） haveAnimated stimuli are powerful tools as theyoffer standardization, repeatability, and complete control over the stimulus presented, thereby＂reducing＂ and ＂replacing＂ the animals used, and ＂refining＂ the experimental design in line withthe 3Rs. However, appropriate use of these technologies raises conceptual and technical questions.In this review, we offer guidelines for common technical and conceptual considerations related tothe use of animated stimuli in animal behavior research. Following the steps required to create ananimated stimulus, we discuss （I） the creation, （11） the presentation, and （111） the validation of CAsand VRs. Although our review is geared toward computer-graphically designed stimuli, consider-ations on presentation and validation also apply to video playbacks. CA and VR allow both new be-havioral questions to be addressed and existing questions to be addressed in new ways, thus weexpect a rich future for these methods in both ultimate and proximate studies of animal behavior.展开更多
Identifying perceptual thresholds is critical for understanding the mechanisms that underlie signalevolution. Using computer-animated stimuli, we examined visual speed sensitivity in the Jackydragon Amphibolurus muric...Identifying perceptual thresholds is critical for understanding the mechanisms that underlie signalevolution. Using computer-animated stimuli, we examined visual speed sensitivity in the Jackydragon Amphibolurus muricatus, a species that makes extensive use of rapid motor patterns in so-cial communication. First, focal lizards were tested in discrimination trials using random-dot kine-matograms displaying combinations of speed, coherence, and direction. Second, we measuredsubject lizards＇ ability to predict the appearance of a secondary reinforcer （1 of 3 differentcomputer-generated animations of invertebrates： cricket, spider, and mite） based on the directionof movement of a field of drifting dots by following a set of behavioural responses （e.g., orientingresponse, latency to respond） to our virtual stimuli. We found an effect of both speed and coher-ence, as well as an interaction between these 2 factors on the perception of moving stimuli.Overall, our results showed that Jacky dragons have acute sensitivity to high speeds. We then em-ployed an optic flow analysis to match the performance to ecologically relevant motion. Our resultssuggest that the Jacky dragon visual system may have been shaped to detect fast motion. Thispre-existing sensitivity may have constrained the evolution of conspecific displays. In contrast,Jacky dragons may have difficulty in detecting the movement of ambush predators, such as snakesand of some invertebrate prey. Our study also demonstrates the potential of the computer-animated stimuli technique for conducting nonintrusive tests to explore motion range and sensitiv-ity in a visually mediated species.展开更多
文摘Rapid technical advances in the field of computeropened new avenues in animal behavior research.animation （CA） and virtual reality （VR） haveAnimated stimuli are powerful tools as theyoffer standardization, repeatability, and complete control over the stimulus presented, thereby＂reducing＂ and ＂replacing＂ the animals used, and ＂refining＂ the experimental design in line withthe 3Rs. However, appropriate use of these technologies raises conceptual and technical questions.In this review, we offer guidelines for common technical and conceptual considerations related tothe use of animated stimuli in animal behavior research. Following the steps required to create ananimated stimulus, we discuss （I） the creation, （11） the presentation, and （111） the validation of CAsand VRs. Although our review is geared toward computer-graphically designed stimuli, consider-ations on presentation and validation also apply to video playbacks. CA and VR allow both new be-havioral questions to be addressed and existing questions to be addressed in new ways, thus weexpect a rich future for these methods in both ultimate and proximate studies of animal behavior.
文摘Identifying perceptual thresholds is critical for understanding the mechanisms that underlie signalevolution. Using computer-animated stimuli, we examined visual speed sensitivity in the Jackydragon Amphibolurus muricatus, a species that makes extensive use of rapid motor patterns in so-cial communication. First, focal lizards were tested in discrimination trials using random-dot kine-matograms displaying combinations of speed, coherence, and direction. Second, we measuredsubject lizards＇ ability to predict the appearance of a secondary reinforcer （1 of 3 differentcomputer-generated animations of invertebrates： cricket, spider, and mite） based on the directionof movement of a field of drifting dots by following a set of behavioural responses （e.g., orientingresponse, latency to respond） to our virtual stimuli. We found an effect of both speed and coher-ence, as well as an interaction between these 2 factors on the perception of moving stimuli.Overall, our results showed that Jacky dragons have acute sensitivity to high speeds. We then em-ployed an optic flow analysis to match the performance to ecologically relevant motion. Our resultssuggest that the Jacky dragon visual system may have been shaped to detect fast motion. Thispre-existing sensitivity may have constrained the evolution of conspecific displays. In contrast,Jacky dragons may have difficulty in detecting the movement of ambush predators, such as snakesand of some invertebrate prey. Our study also demonstrates the potential of the computer-animated stimuli technique for conducting nonintrusive tests to explore motion range and sensitiv-ity in a visually mediated species.
