Simple discrimination reversals in the domestic horse ( Equus caballus ): effect of discriminative stimulus modality on learning to learn
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| Category | Journal Articles |
|---|---|
| Abstract |
The cognitive capacity of an organism, relative to that of other species, can be assessed by using a relative measure of learning. One such measure is the ability of an organism to learn about the reversal of a discrimination. The present study compared the performance of two groups of horses on a simple discrimination reversal task when the only difference between the groups was the modality of the relevant cue. For the visual group (absence or presence of a light), the spatial position was irrelevant. For the spatial group, a spatial cue (left/right) was available and the visual cue was irrelevant. Horses in the spatial group learned the original discrimination and six reversals; they also showed evidence of learning to learn. Horses in the visual group did not reach criterion during the study. As a result, there was no evidence of learning to learn. |
| Date | 2006 |
| Publication Title | Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
| Volume | 101 |
| Issue | 3/4 |
| Pages | 328-338 |
| ISBN/ISSN | 0168-1591 |
| Language | English |
| Author Address | Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, USA. tracy92870@yahoo.com |
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