FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Die Naturwissenschaften2017; 104(7-8); 61; doi: 10.1007/s00114-017-1480-6

A novel test for evaluating horses’ spontaneous visual attention is predictive of attention in operant learning tasks.

Abstract: Attention is described as the ability to process selectively one aspect of the environment over others. In this study, we characterized horses' spontaneous attention by designing a novel visual attention test (VAT) that is easy to apply in the animal's home environment. The test was repeated over three consecutive days and repeated again 6 months later in order to assess inter-individual variations and intra-individual stability. Different patterns of attention have been revealed: 'overall' attention when the horse merely gazed at the stimulus and 'fixed' attention characterized by fixity and orientation of at least the visual and auditory organs towards the stimulus. The individual attention characteristics remained consistent over time (after 6 months, Spearman correlation test, P < 0.05). The validity of this novel test as a predictor of individual attentional skills was assessed by comparing the results, for the same horses, with those obtained in both a 'classical' experimental attention test the 'five-choice serial reaction time task' (5-CSRTT) and a work situation (lunge working context). Our results revealed that (i) individual variations remained consistent across tests and (ii) the VAT attention measures were not only predictive of attentional skills but also of learning abilities. Differences appeared however between the first day of testing and the following test days: attention structure on the second day was predictive of learning abilities, attention performances in the 5-CSRRT and at work. The VAT appears as a promising easy-to-use tool to assess animals' attention characteristics and the impact of different factors of variation on attention.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2017-07-05 PubMed ID: 28681089DOI: 10.1007/s00114-017-1480-6Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper develops and tests a new way to evaluate a horse’s spontaneous attention, which also shows promise in predicting its attention during training tasks.

Research Design

  • In this study, the researchers aimed to better understand horses’ spontaneous attention by designing a new visual attention test (VAT) that can be performed conveniently in the horse’s usual environment. The test is designed to highlight different patterns of attention that the horse might exhibit when presented with a stimulus.
  • Two types of attention were identified: ‘overall’ attention where the horse simply looks at the stimulus, and ‘fixed’ attention which requires the horse to direct not just its vision, but also other sensory organs towards the stimulus.
  • This test was conducted over three consecutive days, and then repeated six months later. The purpose of these trials was to discern any variations between different horses (inter-individual variations) and consistency within a single horse’s responses over time (intra-individual stability).

Results and Analysis

  • Findings showed that individual attention characteristics remained stable over time, with observable consistency even after six months.
  • To verify the accuracy of the VAT in predicting a horse’s attentional skills, the team compared results from this test with those acquired from a previously established experimental attention test known as the ‘five-choice serial reaction time task’ (5-CSRTT), and from attention performances during training sessions.
  • This comparison showed that individual variations remained consistent across all tests, and the VAT measurements were not only indicative of the attentional skills of the horse but also of their learning abilities.
  • In particular, results showed that the attention structure on the second day of the VAT was predictive of the horse’s learning abilities, and its performance in the 5-CSRRT and during training.

Research Significance

  • The visual attention test (VAT) presents itself as a significant development in the field as it is a convenient and practical tool to assess a horse’s attention characteristics. Further, it can illuminate the impact of varying factors on a horse’s attention.
  • The VAT could be particularly useful in predicting the learning capabilities of horses, as well as their attention during training, which can inform effective training strategies and methodologies.

Cite This Article

APA
Rochais C, Sébilleau M, Houdebine M, Bec P, Hausberger M, Henry S. (2017). A novel test for evaluating horses’ spontaneous visual attention is predictive of attention in operant learning tasks. Naturwissenschaften, 104(7-8), 61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-017-1480-6

Publication

Die Naturwissenschaften
ISSN: 1432-1904
NlmUniqueID: 0400767
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 104
Issue: 7-8
Pages: 61

Researcher Affiliations

Rochais, C
  • Université de Rennes 1, UMR 6552-Laboratoire Ethologie Animale et Humaine-EthoS-CNRS, Université de Caen Normandie, Station Biologique, 35380, Paimpont, France. celine.rochais@gmail.com.
Sébilleau, M
  • Université de Rennes 1, UMR 6552-Laboratoire Ethologie Animale et Humaine-EthoS-CNRS, Université de Caen Normandie, Station Biologique, 35380, Paimpont, France.
Houdebine, M
  • Université de Rennes 1, UMR 6552-Laboratoire Ethologie Animale et Humaine-EthoS-CNRS, Université de Caen Normandie, Station Biologique, 35380, Paimpont, France.
Bec, P
  • CNRS, UMR 6552 -Laboratoire Ethologie Animale et Humaine-EthoS-Université de Rennes 1, Université de Caen Normandie, Station Biologique, 35380, Paimpont, France.
Hausberger, M
  • CNRS-UMR 6552, Laboratoire Ethologie Animale et Humaine Université de Rennes 1, Université de Caen Normandie, 263 avenue du général Leclerc, 35042, Rennes cedex, France.
Henry, S
  • Université de Rennes 1, UMR 6552-Laboratoire Ethologie Animale et Humaine-EthoS-CNRS, Université de Caen Normandie, Station Biologique, 35380, Paimpont, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Attention
  • Choice Behavior
  • Horses
  • Learning
  • Vision, Ocular

References

This article includes 52 references
  1. Posner MI, Snyder CR, Davidson BJ. Attention and the detection of signals.. J Exp Psychol 1980 Jun;109(2):160-74.
    pubmed: 7381367
  2. Dukas R. Causes and consequences of limited attention.. Brain Behav Evol 2004;63(4):197-210.
    pubmed: 15084813doi: 10.1159/000076781google scholar: lookup
  3. Henry S, Fureix C, Rowberry R, Bateson M, Hausberger M. Do horses with poor welfare show 'pessimistic' cognitive biases?. Naturwissenschaften 2017 Feb;104(1-2):8.
    pubmed: 28083632doi: 10.1007/s00114-016-1429-1google scholar: lookup
  4. Chica AB, Bartolomeo P, Lupiáñez J. Two cognitive and neural systems for endogenous and exogenous spatial attention.. Behav Brain Res 2013 Jan 15;237:107-23.
    pubmed: 23000534doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.09.027google scholar: lookup
  5. Scheid C, Range F, Bugnyar T. When, what, and whom to watch? Quantifying attention in ravens (Corvus corax) and jackdaws (Corvus monedula).. J Comp Psychol 2007 Nov;121(4):380-6.
    pubmed: 18085921doi: 10.1037/0735-7036.121.4.380google scholar: lookup
  6. Robbins TW. The 5-choice serial reaction time task: behavioural pharmacology and functional neurochemistry.. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2002 Oct;163(3-4):362-80.
    pubmed: 12373437doi: 10.1007/s00213-002-1154-7google scholar: lookup
  7. Carli M, Robbins TW, Evenden JL, Everitt BJ. Effects of lesions to ascending noradrenergic neurones on performance of a 5-choice serial reaction task in rats; implications for theories of dorsal noradrenergic bundle function based on selective attention and arousal.. Behav Brain Res 1983 Sep;9(3):361-80.
    pubmed: 6639741doi: 10.1016/0166-4328(83)90138-9google scholar: lookup
  8. Fureix C, Jego P, Henry S, Lansade L, Hausberger M. Towards an ethological animal model of depression? A study on horses.. PLoS One 2012;7(6):e39280.
    pubmed: 22761752doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039280google scholar: lookup
  9. Baragli P, Padalino B, Telatin A. The role of associative and non-associative learning in the training of horses and implications for the welfare (a review).. Ann Ist Super Sanita 2015;51(1):40-51.
    pubmed: 25857383doi: 10.4415/ANN_15_01_08google scholar: lookup
  10. Hebel R. Distribution of retinal ganglion cells in five mammalian species (pig, sheep, ox, horse, dog).. Anat Embryol (Berl) 1976 Dec 22;150(1):45-51.
    pubmed: 1015629doi: 10.1007/BF00346285google scholar: lookup
  11. Sohlberg MM, Mateer CA. Improving attention and managing attentional problems. Adapting rehabilitation techniques to adults with ADD.. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2001 Jun;931:359-75.
    pubmed: 11462753
  12. Blackmore TL, Foster TM, Sumpter CE, Temple W. An investigation of colour discrimination with horses (Equus caballus).. Behav Processes 2008 Jul;78(3):387-96.
    pubmed: 18359171doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2008.02.003google scholar: lookup
  13. Schloegl C, Kotrschal K, Bugnyar T. Do common ravens (Corvus corax) rely on human or conspecific gaze cues to detect hidden food?. Anim Cogn 2008 Apr;11(2):231-41.
    pubmed: 17762942doi: 10.1007/s10071-007-0105-4google scholar: lookup
  14. Lemasson A, Boutin A, Boivin S, Blois-Heulin C, Hausberger M. Horse (Equus caballus) whinnies: a source of social information.. Anim Cogn 2009 Sep;12(5):693-704.
    pubmed: 19449192doi: 10.1007/s10071-009-0229-9google scholar: lookup
  15. Rochais C, Henry S, Fureix C, Hausberger M. Investigating attentional processes in depressive-like domestic horses (Equus caballus).. Behav Processes 2016 Mar;124:93-6.
    pubmed: 26739514doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2015.12.010google scholar: lookup
  16. Buckwalter JG, Stanczyk FZ, McCleary CA, Bluestein BW, Buckwalter DK, Rankin KP, Chang L, Goodwin TM. Pregnancy, the postpartum, and steroid hormones: effects on cognition and mood.. Psychoneuroendocrinology 1999 Jan;24(1):69-84.
    pubmed: 10098220doi: 10.1016/s0306-4530(98)00044-4google scholar: lookup
  17. Dufour V, Pelé M, Sterck EH, Thierry B. Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) anticipation of food return: coping with waiting time in an exchange task.. J Comp Psychol 2007 May;121(2):145-55.
    pubmed: 17516793doi: 10.1037/0735-7036.121.2.145google scholar: lookup
  18. Bari A, Dalley JW, Robbins TW. The application of the 5-choice serial reaction time task for the assessment of visual attentional processes and impulse control in rats.. Nat Protoc 2008;3(5):759-67.
    pubmed: 18451784doi: 10.1038/nprot.2008.41google scholar: lookup
  19. Rochais C, Henry S, Sankey C, Nassur F, Góracka-Bruzda A, Hausberger M. Visual attention, an indicator of human-animal relationships? A study of domestic horses (Equus caballus).. Front Psychol 2014;5:108.
    pubmed: 24592244doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00108google scholar: lookup
  20. Horn L, Range F, Huber L. Dogs' attention towards humans depends on their relationship, not only on social familiarity.. Anim Cogn 2013 May;16(3):435-43.
    pubmed: 23224364doi: 10.1007/s10071-012-0584-9google scholar: lookup
  21. WILKINSON RT. INTERACTION OF NOISE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF RESULTS AND SLEEP DEPRIVATION.. J Exp Psychol 1963 Oct;66:332-7.
    pubmed: 14051850doi: 10.1037/h0044161google scholar: lookup
  22. Pelé M, Dufour V, Micheletta J, Thierry B. Long-tailed macaques display unexpected waiting abilities in exchange tasks.. Anim Cogn 2010 Mar;13(2):263-71.
    pubmed: 19597853doi: 10.1007/s10071-009-0264-6google scholar: lookup
  23. Altun M, Bergman E, Edström E, Johnson H, Ulfhake B. Behavioral impairments of the aging rat.. Physiol Behav 2007 Dec 5;92(5):911-23.
    pubmed: 17675121doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.06.017google scholar: lookup
  24. Austin NP, Rogers LJ. Asymmetry of flight and escape turning responses in horses.. Laterality 2007 Sep;12(5):464-74.
    pubmed: 17712716doi: 10.1080/13576500701495307google scholar: lookup
  25. Altmann J. Observational study of behavior: sampling methods.. Behaviour 1974;49(3):227-67.
    pubmed: 4597405doi: 10.1163/156853974x00534google scholar: lookup
  26. Rochais C, Fureix C, Lesimple C, Hausberger M. Lower attention to daily environment: a novel cue for detecting chronic horses' back pain?. Sci Rep 2016 Jan 29;6:20117.
    pubmed: 26823123doi: 10.1038/srep20117google scholar: lookup
  27. Rapin V, Poncet PA, Burger D, Mermod C, Richard MA. [Measurement of the attention time in the horse].. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 2007 Feb;149(2):77-83.
    pubmed: 17343134doi: 10.1024/0036-7281.149.2.77google scholar: lookup
  28. Wolff A, Hausberger M, Le Scolan N. Experimental tests to assess emotionality in horses.. Behav Processes 1997 Sep;40(3):209-21.
    pubmed: 24895882doi: 10.1016/s0376-6357(97)00784-5google scholar: lookup
  29. Welner SA, Koty ZC. Amelioration of sensory attention and sensorimotor deficits by chromaffin cell grafts to the cerebral cortex of nucleus basalis magnocellularis lesioned rats.. Behav Brain Res 1993 Dec 31;59(1-2):73-81.
    pubmed: 8155295doi: 10.1016/0166-4328(93)90153-hgoogle scholar: lookup
  30. Wathan J, McComb K. The eyes and ears are visual indicators of attention in domestic horses.. Curr Biol 2014 Aug 4;24(15):R677-9.
    pubmed: 25093554doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.023google scholar: lookup
  31. Parker M, McBride SD, Redhead ES, Goodwin D. Differential place and response learning in horses displaying an oral stereotypy.. Behav Brain Res 2009 Jun 8;200(1):100-5.
    pubmed: 19162081doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.12.033google scholar: lookup
  32. Lampe JF, Andre J. Cross-modal recognition of human individuals in domestic horses (Equus caballus).. Anim Cogn 2012 Jul;15(4):623-30.
    pubmed: 22526687doi: 10.1007/s10071-012-0490-1google scholar: lookup
  33. Steckler T, Sauvage M, Holsboer F. Glucocorticoid receptor impairment enhances impulsive responding in transgenic mice performing on a simultaneous visual discrimination task.. Eur J Neurosci 2000 Jul;12(7):2559-69.
    pubmed: 10947830doi: 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2000.00111.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  34. Lesimple C, Sankey C, Richard MA, Hausberger M. Do horses expect humans to solve their problems?. Front Psychol 2012;3:306.
    pubmed: 22936923doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00306google scholar: lookup
  35. Blois-Heulin C. Variability in social visual attention in the red-capped mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus torquatus) and the grey-cheeked mangabey (Cercocebus albigena albigena).. Folia Primatol (Basel) 1999 Sep-Oct;70(5):264-8.
    pubmed: 10567831doi: 10.1159/000021705google scholar: lookup
  36. Hausberger M, Bruderer C, Le Scolan N, Pierre JS. Interplay between environmental and genetic factors in temperament/personality traits in horses (Equus caballus).. J Comp Psychol 2004 Dec;118(4):434-46.
    pubmed: 15584780doi: 10.1037/0735-7036.118.4.434google scholar: lookup
  37. Kienapfel K, Link Y, König V Borstel U. Prevalence of different head-neck positions in horses shown at dressage competitions and their relation to conflict behaviour and performance marks.. PLoS One 2014;9(8):e103140.
    pubmed: 25090242doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103140google scholar: lookup
  38. Larose C, Richard-Yris MA, Hausberger M, Rogers LJ. Laterality of horses associated with emotionality in novel situations.. Laterality 2006 Jul;11(4):355-67.
    pubmed: 16754236doi: 10.1080/13576500600624221google scholar: lookup
  39. Alkam T, Hiramatsu M, Mamiya T, Aoyama Y, Nitta A, Yamada K, Kim HC, Nabeshima T. Evaluation of object-based attention in mice.. Behav Brain Res 2011 Jun 20;220(1):185-93.
    pubmed: 21277334doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.01.039google scholar: lookup
  40. Range F, Horn L, Bugnyar T, Gajdon GK, Huber L. Social attention in keas, dogs, and human children.. Anim Cogn 2009 Jan;12(1):181-92.
    pubmed: 18716802doi: 10.1007/s10071-008-0181-0google scholar: lookup
  41. George I, Richard JP, Cousillas H, Hausberger M. No need to Talk, I Know You: Familiarity Influences Early Multisensory Integration in a Songbird's Brain.. Front Behav Neurosci 2011;4:193.
    pubmed: 21283531doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2010.00193google scholar: lookup
  42. de Groot RH, Adam JJ, Hornstra G. Selective attention deficits during human pregnancy.. Neurosci Lett 2003 Apr 3;340(1):21-4.
    pubmed: 12648749doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(03)00034-xgoogle scholar: lookup
  43. Cohen LB. Attention-getting and attention-holding processes of infant visual preferences.. Child Dev 1972 Sep;43(3):869-79.
    pubmed: 5056611
  44. Bushnell PJ. Behavioral approaches to the assessment of attention in animals.. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1998 Aug;138(3-4):231-59.
    pubmed: 9725746doi: 10.1007/s002130050668google scholar: lookup
  45. Harman AM, Moore S, Hoskins R, Keller P. Horse vision and an explanation for the visual behaviour originally explained by the 'ramp retina'.. Equine Vet J 1999 Sep;31(5):384-90.
    pubmed: 10505953doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03837.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  46. Le Scolan N, Hausberger M, Wolff A. Stability over situations in temperamental traits of horses as revealed by experimental and scoring approaches.. Behav Processes 1997 Dec;41(3):257-66.
    pubmed: 24896858doi: 10.1016/s0376-6357(97)00052-1google scholar: lookup
  47. Hillemann F, Bugnyar T, Kotrschal K, Wascher CA. Waiting for better, not for more: corvids respond to quality in two delay maintenance tasks.. Anim Behav 2014 Apr 1;90:1-10.
    pubmed: 25892738doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.01.007google scholar: lookup
  48. De Boyer Des Roches A, Richard-Yris MA, Henry S, Ezzaouïa M, Hausberger M. Laterality and emotions: visual laterality in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) differs with objects' emotional value.. Physiol Behav 2008 Jun 9;94(3):487-90.
    pubmed: 18455205doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.03.002google scholar: lookup
  49. Chelazzi L, Perlato A, Santandrea E, Della Libera C. Rewards teach visual selective attention.. Vision Res 2013 Jun 7;85:58-72.
    pubmed: 23262054doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2012.12.005google scholar: lookup
  50. Vollbrecht PJ, Nobile CW, Chadderdon AM, Jutkiewicz EM, Ferrario CR. Pre-existing differences in motivation for food and sensitivity to cocaine-induced locomotion in obesity-prone rats.. Physiol Behav 2015 Dec 1;152(Pt A):151-60.
    pubmed: 26423787doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.09.022google scholar: lookup
  51. Caporello Bluvas E, Gentner TQ. Attention to natural auditory signals.. Hear Res 2013 Nov;305:10-8.
    pubmed: 23981812doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2013.08.007google scholar: lookup
  52. Hanggi EB, Ingersoll JF. Stimulus discrimination by horses under scotopic conditions.. Behav Processes 2009 Sep;82(1):45-50.
    pubmed: 19389464doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2009.04.009google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 12 times.
  1. Tomberg C, Petagna M, de Selliers de Moranville LA. Horses (Equus caballus) facial micro-expressions: insight into discreet social information. Sci Rep 2023 May 27;13(1):8625.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-35807-zpubmed: 37244937google scholar: lookup
  2. Grandgeorge M, Rochais C, Auffret F, Dollion N. Service Dogs and Persons with Disabilities: When COVID-19 Lockdown Changes Their Relationship. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 2;13(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13050914pubmed: 36899771google scholar: lookup
  3. Rochais C, Schradin C, Pillay N. Cognitive performance is linked to survival in free-living African striped mice. Proc Biol Sci 2023 Mar 8;290(1994):20230205.
    doi: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0205pubmed: 36883277google scholar: lookup
  4. Rochais C, Stomp M, Sébilleau M, Houdebine M, Henry S, Hausberger M. Horses' attentional characteristics differ according to the type of work. PLoS One 2022;17(7):e0269974.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269974pubmed: 35877616google scholar: lookup
  5. Lerch N, Cirulli F, Rochais C, Lesimple C, Guilbaud E, Contalbrigo L, Borgi M, Grandgeorge M, Hausberger M. Interest in Humans: Comparisons between Riding School Lesson Equids and Assisted-Intervention Equids. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 28;11(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11092533pubmed: 34573500google scholar: lookup
  6. Pougnault L, Cousillas H, Heyraud C, Huber L, Hausberger M, Henry L. Experimental Tests for Measuring Individual Attentional Characteristics in Songbirds. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 29;11(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11082233pubmed: 34438691google scholar: lookup
  7. Alterisio A, Baragli P, Aria M, D'Aniello B, Scandurra A. Could the Visual Differential Attention Be a Referential Gesture? A Study on Horses (Equus caballus) on the Impossible Task Paradigm. Animals (Basel) 2018 Jul 17;8(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ani8070120pubmed: 30018209google scholar: lookup
  8. Rochais C, Sébilleau M, Menoret M, Oger M, Henry S, Hausberger M, Cousillas H. Attentional state and brain processes: state-dependent lateralization of EEG profiles in horses. Sci Rep 2018 Jul 5;8(1):10153.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28334-9pubmed: 29976936google scholar: lookup
  9. Rochais C, Henry S, Hausberger M. Spontaneous attention-capture by auditory distractors as predictor of distractibility: a study of domestic horses (Equus caballus). Sci Rep 2017 Nov 10;7(1):15283.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-15654-5pubmed: 29127367google scholar: lookup
  10. Barrera G, Albiach-Serrano A, Guillén-Salazar F. Exploring horses' (Equus caballus) gaze and asymmetric ear position in relation to human attentional cues. Anim Cogn 2024 Oct 22;27(1):67.
    doi: 10.1007/s10071-024-01909-ypubmed: 39436472google scholar: lookup
  11. Tomberg C, Petagna M, de Selliers de Moranville LA. Spontaneous eye blinks in horses (Equus caballus) are modulated by attention. Sci Rep 2024 Aug 20;14(1):19336.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-70141-ypubmed: 39164361google scholar: lookup
  12. Gueguen L, Henry S, Delbos M, Lemasson A, Hausberger M. Selected Acoustic Frequencies Have a Positive Impact on Behavioural and Physiological Welfare Indicators in Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 20;13(18).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13182970pubmed: 37760370google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 100,113 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.