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PloS one2013; 8(4); e62324; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062324

Stress modulates instrumental learning performances in horses (Equus caballus) in interaction with temperament.

Abstract: The present study investigates how the temperament of the animal affects the influence of acute stress on the acquisition and reacquisition processes of a learning task. After temperament was assessed, horses were subjected to a stressor before or after the acquisition session of an instrumental task. Eight days later, horses were subjected to a reacquisition session without any stressor. Stress before acquisition tended to enhance the number of successes at the beginning of the acquisition session. Eight days later, during the reacquisition session, contrary to non-stressed animals, horses stressed after acquisition, and, to a lesser extent, horses stressed before acquisition, did not improve their performance between acquisition and reacquisition sessions. Temperament influenced learning performances in stressed horses only. Particularly, locomotor activity improved performances whereas fearfulness impaired them under stressful conditions. Results suggest that direct exposure to a stressor tended to increase acquisition performances, whereas a state of stress induced by the memory of a stressor, because it has been previously associated with the learning context, impaired reacquisition performances. The negative effect of a state of stress on reacquisition performances appeared to be stronger when exposure to the stressor occurred after rather than before the acquisition session. Temperament had an impact on both acquisition and reacquisition processes, but under stressful conditions only. These results suggest that stress is necessary to reveal the influence of temperament on cognitive performances.
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Publication Date: 2013-04-23 PubMed ID: 23626801PubMed Central: PMC3633893DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062324Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study explores how stress, in conjunction with a horse’s temperament, impacts its learning process. It is found that stress can enhance a horse’s initial learning, but impairs its ability to relearn. Additionally, horses with higher levels of activity performed better under stress, while those with a fearful temperament performed worse.

Research Methodology

  • The study involved assessing the temperament of horses.
  • These horses were then exposed to a stressful event either before or after a learning task.
  • Eight days after the initial learning task, the horses were presented with the task again, this time without any prior stress exposure.
  • The aim was to observe how exposure to a stressor influenced the acquisition and reacquisition processes of the learning task.

Acquisition vs Reacquisition Results

  • The study found that stress before learning seemed to improve the initial success rate.
  • However, horses that were stressed after the initial task, and to a lesser extent those stressed before, did not display improvement during the relearning session eight days later.
  • This suggests that while a direct encounter with a stressor can enhance the initial acquisition process, a state of stress induced by the memory of a stressor can impair the reacquisition process.

Influence of Temperament

  • The researchers also noted that a horse’s temperament impacted learning performance, but only under stressful conditions.
  • Horses with a high degree of locomotor activity displayed better performance under stress, while those with high fearfulness levels underperformed under stress.
  • This implies that a horse’s temperament comes into play under stress and can significantly influence the learning processes.

Conclusions

  • The researchers concluded that while stress can enhance the initial learning process in horses, it hampers their ability to relearn.
  • They also deduced that a horse’s temperament plays a significant role in learning under stressful conditions.
  • They suggest that further research may lead to a better understanding of the impact of stress on learning processes in animals and could improve care practices.

Cite This Article

APA
Valenchon M, Lévy F, Prunier A, Moussu C, Calandreau L, Lansade L. (2013). Stress modulates instrumental learning performances in horses (Equus caballus) in interaction with temperament. PLoS One, 8(4), e62324. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0062324

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 4
Pages: e62324
PII: e62324

Researcher Affiliations

Valenchon, Mathilde
  • INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France.
Lévy, Frédéric
    Prunier, Armelle
      Moussu, Chantal
        Calandreau, Ludovic
          Lansade, Léa

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Behavior, Animal
            • Conditioning, Operant
            • Female
            • Horses
            • Hydrocortisone / metabolism
            • Saliva / metabolism
            • Stress, Psychological / metabolism
            • Temperament

            Conflict of Interest Statement

            The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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