Object Properties Mediating Visual Object Discrimination in the Cat

Abstract

In two experiments 25 cats were trained to discriminate objects differing in several properties and then tested to determine which properties provided the basis for discrimination. In both experiments outline shape was a more effective property than texture or three-dimensional shape. In Exp. 1 texture and three-dimensional shape were more effective when the rough, angular (as opposed to the smooth, rounded) object was positive. In Exp. 2 texture was effective when the rough object was positive whether or not the visually “rough” object was also factually rough. Evidence from both experiments indicates that Ss' reactions were primarily determined by the properties of the positive object, and without regard for the properties of the negative object.