Lateralization of visually controlled behavior in pigeons.

Pigeons were trained binocularly on two different successive pattern discrimination tasks. After reaching criterion they performed the tasks with either the left or the right eye occluded or with both eyes unobstructed. The number of responses emitted was greater when the right rather than the left eye was uncovered. Also the percent correct discrimination scores were better when seeing with the right eye than with the left one. Some pigeons originally acquired the discrimination monocularly, generally using the right eye, although both eyes were uncovered. The results are discussed in relation to brain structures that may mediate this performance.