Horses use procedural learning rather than conceptual learning to solve matching to sample
Research into higher cognitive abilities of the horse may be limited by developing the adequate experimental design. In this study four pony mares between 8 and 19 years old were included. Three of them reached the criterion to be tested in a new design of matching to sample using a black circle and a cross […]
Inferential reasoning and modality dependent discrimination learning in olive baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis)
Apes use inferential reasoning by exclusion to locate food both in the visual and auditory domain. To test whether olive baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) show similar abilities as the apes object choice experiments with differing information about food located in 1 of 2 cups were conducted in the visual and auditory modality. Although all baboons […]
Discrimination of face-like patterns in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
The black-and-white pattern of the giant panda’s (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) fur is a conspicuous signal and may be used for mate-choice and intraspecific communication. Here the authors examined whether they have the perceptual and cognitive potential to make use of this information. Two juvenile subjects were trained on several discrimination problems in steps of increasing difficulty, […]
Visual discrimination and reversal learning in rough-necked monitor lizards (Varanus rudicollis)
Reptile learning has been studied with a variety of methods and has included numerous species. However, research on learning in lizards has generally focused on spatial memory and has been studied in only a few species. This study explored visual discrimination in two rough-necked monitors (Varanus rudicollis). Subjects were trained to discriminate between black and […]
Hooded Crows Solve a Transitive Inference Problem Cognitively
We investigated the ability of hooded crows to form transitive inferences. Subjects were trained to discriminate a series of overlapping pairs of stimuli: A+ B−, B+ C−, C+ D−, D+ E, where the letters stood for colour stimuli and plus and minus for rewarded or non-rewarded choices. The stimuli were cards of different colours with […]
The effect of spatial contiguity on discrimination learning by rhesus monkeys.
The role of spatial contiguity in learning was tested in a visual discrimination problem with monkeys, by varying the vertical spatial separation between the differential stimuli and the locus of response. An inverse relationship between spatial separation and performance efficiency was found
Learning to learn during visual discrimination in group housed dwarf goats (Capra hircus)
Using an automated learning device, we investigated “learning to learn” by dwarf goats (Capra hircus) in what was for them a familiar environment and normal social settings. Nine problems, each consisting of four discriminable black symbols, each with one S and three different S , were presented on a computer screen. Mean daily learning success […]
Relational responding by eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) in a series of color discrimination tasks
Prior work with chelonians has demonstrated their capacity for successful performance in cognitive tasks, including those requiring color discrimination. Here, we sought to expand on historical research and determine whether eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) are capable of not only making simple color discriminations but also whether they can demonstrate abstract concept formation evidenced by […]