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Author (up) Robins, A.; Phillips, C. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Lateralised visual processing in domestic cattle herds responding to novel and familiar stimuli Type Journal Article
  Year 2009 Publication Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition Abbreviated Journal Laterality  
  Volume 15 Issue 5 Pages 514-534  
  Keywords  
  Abstract We investigated whether cattle exhibit preferences to monitor challenging and novel stimuli. Experiments were conducted on dairy and beef cattle herds and revealed significant left eye preferences in the cattle for viewing an experimenter walking to repeatedly split the herd through its centre. Visual lateralisation was demonstrated in the preference to use the left monocular field to monitor the experimenter, alone or equipped with a range of novel stimuli. This finding is consistent with left eye preferences found in various species of mammals, birds, and amphibians responding to predators and novel stimuli. A cohort of the familiarised cattle herds was then subjected to additional herd-splitting tests with the same stimuli and demonstrated a reversal of viewing preferences, preferring to monitor the experimenter and stimuli within the right and not left monocular field. This directional shift in viewing preferences is consistent with experience-dependent learning found in lateralised visual processing in other, non-mammalian, species, and to our knowledge is the first of such studies to suggest that such lateralised learning processes also exist in mammals. Together the data support a number of key hypotheses concerning the evolution and conservation of lateralised brain function in vertebrates, and also provide important considerations for livestock handling.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Routledge Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1357-650x ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes doi: 10.1080/13576500903049324 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5918  
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Author (up) Robins, A.; Rogers, L.J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Lateralized prey-catching responses in the cane toad, Bufo marinus: analysis of complex visual stimuli Type Journal Article
  Year 2004 Publication Animal Behaviour. Abbreviated Journal Anim. Behav.  
  Volume 68 Issue 4 Pages 767-775  
  Keywords  
  Abstract We tested the responses of Bufo marinus to prey stimuli of varying visual complexity that were moved around the toads in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction at 1.7 revolutions/min. Predatory responses directed at prey resembling an insect were frequent when the model insect moved clockwise across the visual midline into the right visual hemifield. In contrast, the toads tended to ignore such stimuli when they moved anticlockwise across the midline into the left hemifield. No such lateralization was found when a rectangular strip moved along its longest axis was presented in a similar way. The toads also directed more responses towards the latter stimulus than towards the insect prey. Hence, the results suggest that lateralized predatory responses occur for considered decisions on whether or not to respond to complex insect-like stimuli, but not for decisions on comparatively simple stimuli. We discuss similarities between the lateralized feeding responses of B. marinus and those of avian species, as support for the hypothesis that lateralized brain function in tetrapods may have arisen from a common lateralized ancestor.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0003-3472 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5365  
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