摘要：SummaryRecognition of rotated images can challenge visual systems. Humans often diminish the load of cognitive tasks employing bodily actions (cognitive offloading). To investigate these phenomena from a comparative perspective, we trained eight dogs (Canis familiaris) to discriminate between bidimensional shapes. We then tested the dogs with rotated versions of the same shapes, while measuring their accuracy and head tilts. Although generalization to rotated stimuli challenged dogs (overall accuracy: 55%), three dogs performed differently from chance level with rotated stimuli. The amplitude of stimulus rotation did not influence dogs’ performance. Interestingly, dogs tilted their head following the direction and amplitude of rotated stimuli. These small head movements did not influence their performance. Hence, we show that dogs might be capable of recognizing rotated 2D objects, but they do not use a cognitive offloading strategy in this task. This work paves the way to further investigation of cognitive offloading in non-human species.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•Dogs have the potential to recognize 2D objects even when these are rotated•After training, females were more accurate in discriminating upright images•Dogs tilted their head in the same direction as the images were rotated•In our setting, dogs did not offload a cognitive process onto their bodiesCanine behavior; Behavioral neuroscience; Cognitive neuroscience;
