Characterization of long-term memory, resistance to extinction, and influence of temperament during two instrumental tasks in horses.

This research explores how temperament influences a horse’s ability to recall and extinguish two learned tasks over a long period of time. It was found that horses displayed perfect recall of both tasks almost two years after learning them, regardless of temperament, but their ability to extinguish the tasks varied, with more fearful horses showing resistance to extinguishing the backward task and less sensitive horses resisting extinction of the active avoidance task.

Research Methods

• The study included 26 horses, and it experimented with two separate tasks that the horses had to learn. The researchers then studied the horse’s long-term recall and ability to extinguish these behaviors.
• In the first task, which was called the ‘backward task’, the horses were trained to move backwards on command from an experimenter, and were given a food treat as a reward for doing so.
• In the second task, named the ‘active avoidance task’, the horses were trained to cross an obstacle whenever a bell was rung, in order to prevent an air puff from being released.

Findings

• After a substantial period of 22 months, the horses showed perfect recall of both tasks, with no influence of their different temperaments being observed on their ability to recall.
• However, the results were notably different when it came to the animals’ ability to extinguish their response to the tasks when no positive or negative outcomes were given.
• The ability of the horses to extinguish their learned behaviors varied widely, with some interesting connections to the temperaments of the horses.
• Those horses that were identified as being more fearful or anxious were found to be most resistant to ceasing the backward task behavior, whilst horses which displayed less sensitivity were most resistant to giving up the active avoidance task.

Conclusion

• This study illustrates how horses possess an extensive long-term memory ability, managing to recall tasks accurately almost two years after they first learned them.
• However, the researchers also found that the temperament of a horse can play a role in the ability to extinguish behaviors, suggesting that the psychological profile of a horse may impact some learning processes other than just task acquisition.