Cue use by foals (Equus caballus) in a discrimination learning task.
Abstract: Discrimination learning studies suggest that horses learn more easily using spatial than visible object-specific (OS) cues. However, spatial cues have generally confounded intra-array, distal and/or egocentric spatial information. It is also unclear whether conflicting cues compete for association or are redundantly encoded, and furthermore, the influence of prior experiences or training has not been quantified so far. We examined the effect of cue modality on unweaned foals' performance in a discrimination learning task. After a pilot study confirmed that horses could perform the required OS cue discrimination, nine foals learnt to find food in one of three covered buckets, in any of four positions within a test arena. In Stage 1 the rewarded bucket was signified both by OS cues (pattern) and by relative spatial cues (position). On reaching criterion, cues were separated and foals had to ignore the inappropriate cue (Stage 2). Foals assigned to follow spatial cues (n = 5) completed Stage 2 faster than foals for whom OS cues remained consistent (n = 4). Spatial group foals all reached criterion without delay; no foal in the OS group reached criterion within the testing period. OS group foals initially persisted in responding to the previously correct position, adopting spatially-based strategies when this proved unsuccessful. The findings show for the first time that, even in the absence of distal spatial information, intra-array spatial cues were more salient than OS cues for foals in a food-finding task and learning appeared rather inflexible.
Publication Date: 2009-06-12 PubMed ID: 19521725DOI: 10.1007/s10071-009-0245-9Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates how foals (young horses) use different cues to locate food in a learning task. The study found that spatial cues—information about an object’s location—were more effective for the foals than object-specific (OS) cues, such as patterns or shapes.
Research Methodology
- The researchers started with nine foals who were taught to find food hidden in one of three buckets placed in different positions within a test area.
- Initially, the rewarded bucket was marked both by OS cues (patterns) and spatial cues (position). Upon reaching a certain level of proficiency, the cues were separated to test the foals’ ability to ignore irrelevant cues.
- The foals were divided into two groups. One group had to follow spatial cues (n = 5), while the other group had to adhere to OS cues (n = 4).
Key Findings
- The group of foals guided by spatial cues completed this second stage faster than the group that had to stick with OS cues.
- All foals in the spatial group were able to reach proficiency without delay; none in the OS group could reach proficiency within the testing timeframe.
- The OS group foals initially persisted in responding to the previously correct position, and started using spatially-based strategies when their initial approach was unsuccessful.
Implications and Conclusions
- The study revealed that foals found spatial cues more significant than OS cues for locating food in a task, even when no distal (in the distance) spatial information was provided.
- The findings also suggested that learning in foals appeared to be rather inflexible, as they stuck with strategies that proved unsuccessful longer than expected.
- This research contributes valuable insights to our understanding of cue use in horses, which could potentially be applicable to other animals and even human infants, given further research.
Cite This Article
APA
Hothersall B, Gale EV, Harris P, Nicol CJ.
(2009).
Cue use by foals (Equus caballus) in a discrimination learning task.
Anim Cogn, 13(1), 63-74.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-009-0245-9 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. B.Hothersall@bristol.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cues
- Discrimination Learning
- Discrimination, Psychological
- Female
- Horses / psychology
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Kappel S, Ramirez Montes De Oca MA, Collins S, Herborn K, Mendl M, Fureix C. Do you see what I see? Testing horses' ability to recognise real-life objects from 2D computer projections. Anim Cogn 2023 Jul;26(4):1147-1159.
- Ringhofer M, Trösch M, Lansade L, Yamamoto S. Horses with sustained attention follow the pointing of a human who knows where food is hidden. Sci Rep 2021 Aug 10;11(1):16184.
- 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.
- Proops L, Rayner J, Taylor AM, McComb K. The Responses of Young Domestic Horses to Human-Given Cues. PLoS One 2013;8(6):e67000.
- Krueger K, Roll A, Beyer AJ, Föll A, Bernau M, Farmer K. Learning from eavesdropping on human-human encounters changes feeding location choice in horses (Equus Caballus). Anim Cogn 2025 Mar 17;28(1):23.
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