Presence or absence of "rotational invariance" in mirror-image discrimination

本研究的目的是通过实验研究本研究者（Takano，1989）提出的信息类型理论的有效性。Hollard和Delius（1982）让鸽子区分旋转的镜像和旋转的原始图像，结果表明，在不改变心理旋转方向的情况下进行了区分（谢泼德6 Metzler，1971）。他们解释这些结果表明，鸽子通过检测镜像中的“旋转不变性”来执行上述任务，而人类无法检测到。然而，根据信息类型理论，这种使得能够区分镜像的“旋转不变性”在物理上并不存在。事实上，上述研究人员还没有确定其“旋转不变性”的性质。信息类型理论已经确定了这样的方法，使人们有可能在不进行心理旋转和不依赖于“旋转不变性”的情况下区分旋转的镜像。“如果人类被迫使用这些方法之一，他们预计将表现出与鸽子相同的表现模式。本研究旨在验证这一预测。不幸的是，第一个实验未能抑制心理旋转的使用。计划在下一次实验中改进实验程序。

The purpose of the present study was to investigate experimentally the validity of the information type theory proposed by the present researcher (Takano, 1989). Hollard and Delius (1982) made pigeons to discriminate rotated mirror-images from rotated originals, and obtained results indicating that discrimination was made without modifying the orientations by mental rotation (Shepard 6 Metzler, 1971). They interpreted these results to suggest that the pigeons performed the above task by detecting "rotational invariance" in mirror-images, which cannot be detected by humans. According to the information type theory, however, such "rotational invariance" that makes it possible to discriminate mirror-images does not exist physically. Indeed, the above researchers have not identified the nature of their "rotational invariance." The information type theory has identified such methods that make it possible to discriminate rotated mirror-images without performing mental rotation and without depending on "rotational invariance." If humans are forced to employ one of these methods, they are expected to exhibit the same pattern of performance as that of pigeons. The present study was designed to test this prediction. Unfortunately, the first experiment failed to suppress the use of mental rotation. It is planned to improve the experimental procedures in the next experiment.