What-where-when memory in pigeons

J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process. 2006 Oct;32(4):345-58. doi: 10.1037/0097-7403.32.4.345.

Abstract

The authors report a novel approach to testing episodic-like memory for single events. Pigeons were trained in separate sessions to match the identity of a sample on a touch screen, to match its location, and to report on the length of the retention interval. When these 3 tasks were mixed randomly within sessions, birds were more than 80% correct on each task. However, performance on 2 different tests in succession after each sample was not consistent with an integrated memory for sample location, time, and identity. Experiment 2 tested binding of location and identity memories in 2 different ways. The results were again consistent with independent feature memories. Implications for tests of episodic-like memory are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Columbidae
  • Conditioning, Operant / physiology
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Reinforcement, Psychology
  • Space Perception / physiology*
  • Spatial Behavior / physiology
  • Teaching
  • Visual Perception / physiology