Discrimination learning and concept formation in the Arabian horse.
Abstract: Discrimination learning and concept formation abilities were investigated in four mature Arabian horses. A series of two-choice discrimination problems were presented on stimulus panels that could open to allow access to food bowls. Selection of the correct stimulus resulted in food reinforcement, and an incorrect choice was not rewarded. The positions of the correct and incorrect stimuli were varied randomly during each test session, and the criterion for learning each problem was 85% correct for two consecutive sessions of 30 or 40 trials. Testing progressed through six discrimination problems. The first four were simple pattern discriminations, but the last two incorporated several different triangles as correct stimuli and thus involved the concept of triangularity. Two of the subjects successfully completed only simple pattern discriminations, one showed evidence of learning in the first concept problem, and one completed all six tests, including the two concept formation problems. The results demonstrate complex pattern discrimination ability in horses, and suggest that they may also have the ability to form and use concepts in problem solving.
Publication Date: 1994-12-01 PubMed ID: 7759356DOI: 10.2527/1994.72123080xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article presents a study on discrimination learning and concept formation abilities in Arabian horses, showing they might have the ability to comprehend complex patterns and possibly form concepts to solve problems.
Objective of the Research
- The study aimed to examine the capacity of Arabian horses to undergo discrimination learning and form concepts. It tried to ascertain whether horses can distinguish between different patterns and understand the concept of geometric shapes such as triangles.
Methodology
- Four mature Arabian horses were examined for their abilities in discrimination learning and concept formation.
- A sequence of two-choice discrimination difficulties were posed in front of the horses on stimulus panels, with the correct answer granting them access to a food reward. An incorrect answer had no reward.
- To ensure horses were not remembering exact locations, the positioning of the correct and incorrect stimuli varied randomly in every test attempt.
- There were a total of six discrimination problems for the horses to solve. The first four were basic pattern discriminations, while the last two incorporated different triangles as correct stimuli, thereby introducing the concept of triangularity to the horses. The horses were required to successfully choose the correct stimulus in at least 85% of attempts in two consecutive sessions of 30 or 40 trials for each problem.
Results
- Two subjects were only able to solve simple pattern discriminations, while another one demonstrated learning in the first concept problem.
- One subject exhibited learning capacity across all six tests, including the two concept formation problems, thus displaying the ability of horses to discern complex patterns and potentially form concepts for problem-solving.
Conclusion
- The findings suggest that horses can undertake complex pattern discrimination tasks and possibly form and utilize concepts for problem-solving purposes. This establishes an uninvited understanding of the cognitive abilities in horses, providing a platform for further research and investigation.
Cite This Article
APA
Sappington BF, Goldman L.
(1994).
Discrimination learning and concept formation in the Arabian horse.
J Anim Sci, 72(12), 3080-3087.
https://doi.org/10.2527/1994.72123080x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 91768.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Concept Formation / physiology
- Crosses, Genetic
- Discrimination Learning / physiology
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Horses / psychology
- Male
- Random Allocation
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Ragonese G, Baragli P, Mariti C, Gazzano A, Lanatà A, Ferlazzo A, Fazio E, Cravana C. Interspecific two-dimensional visual discrimination of faces in horses (Equus caballus). PLoS One 2021;16(2):e0247310.
- Braun DA, Mehring C, Wolpert DM. Structure learning in action. Behav Brain Res 2010 Jan 20;206(2):157-65.
- Okatan M. Correlates of reward-predictive value in learning-related hippocampal neural activity. Hippocampus 2009 May;19(5):487-506.
- Ricci-Bonot C, Brosche K, Baragli P, Nicol C. A systematic review on the effect of individual characteristics and management practices on equine cognition. Anim Cogn 2025 Nov 26;28(1):96.
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