Recognition of natural objects in the archerfish

Recognition of individual objects and their categorization is a complex computational task. Nevertheless, visual systems can perform this task in a rapid and accurate manner. Humans and other animals can efficiently recognize objects despite countless variations in their projection on the retina due to different viewing angles, distance, illumination conditions and other parameters. To gain a better understanding of the recognition process in teleosts, we explored it in archerfish, a species that hunts by shooting a jet of water at aerial targets and thus can benefit from ecologically relevant recognition of natural objects. We found that archerfish not only can categorize objects into relevant classes but also can do so for novel objects, and additionally they can recognize an individual object presented under different conditions. To understand the mechanisms underlying this capability, we developed a computational model based on object features and a machine learning classifier. The analysis of the model revealed that a small number of features was sufficient for categorization, and the fish were more sensitive to object contours than textures. We tested these predictions in additional behavioral experiments and validated them. Our findings suggest the existence of a complex visual process in the archerfish visual system that enables object recognition and categorization.

Automated summary

Recognition and categorization of individual objects is a complex computational task, but visual systems can perform it rapidly and accurately. Archerfish, a species that hunts by shooting water at aerial targets, has the ability to recognize natural objects and categorize them into relevant classes. They can also recognize individual objects under different conditions. A computational model based on object features and a machine learning classifier reveals that a small number of features and object contours play a key role in object categorization. Behavioral experiments validate these findings.