Binocularly deprived cats are normal in visual discrimination learning in a simple apparatus

Abstract

Pattern discrimination learning was compared in three groups of cats: reared in normal conditions, reared in the laboratory with opened eyes, and deprived of patterned vision from birth. A four-choice apparatus without partitions was used. The figure of a disc was reinforced with food, whereas a cross, triangle and square were not. All groups reached criterion after similar numbers of trials and errors, indicating that in binocularly deprived cats, simple perceptual and associative learning are not impaired.