Relevance of intra and extra-maze visual cues for spatial orientation in the toad Rhinella arenarum.

DANERI, M. FLORENCIA; MUZIO, RUBEN N.

Jaen

Congreso; 2da Reunión Conjunta de la Sociedad Española de Psicología Comparada y la International Society for Comparative Psychology; 2012

International Society for Comparative Psychology

The use of environmental visual cues for spatial orientation is an important ability. Mammals orientate in space using multiple environmental cues of the surrounding world and setting spatial relationships between them. Amphibians also have the capacity of spatial orientation, but it is still unknown how they do it. Previous studies in our lab showed that toads can use intra and extra-maze visual cues to orientate. The objective of this work is to determine the relevance they have in the orientation process. We trained toads (Rhinella arenarum) in a water finding orientation task using a transparent open field (to provide access to the context -extra maze- visual cues of the training room) with visual cues placed in the wall ?intra maze-. After acquisition it was tested the relevance of each type of visual cue by hiding them (with an opaque curtain the extra maze and by removing the intra maze). A test with cues set in conflict (rotation of intra maze cues) was also presented. The tests revealed that animals use both types of visual cues to find the reinforcer inside the open field, being extra maze cues more relevant to reach the spatial goal.