Long-term memory for categories and concepts in horses (Equus caballus) |
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Authors: | Evelyn B Hanggi Jerry F Ingersoll |
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Institution: | (1) Equine Research Foundation, P.O. Box 1900, Aptos, CA 95001, USA |
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Abstract: | Three horses (Equus caballus) with a history of performing cognitive tasks including discrimination learning, categorization, and concept use were tested
to evaluate their long-term memory (LTM) in three experiments. In addition, use of LCD multi-displays for stimulus presentation
was incorporated into cognition testing protocol for the first time with horses. Experiment 1 tested LTM for discrimination
learning that originally occurred 6 years earlier. Five sets of stimuli were used and the two horses tested showed no decrement
in performance on four of the sets; however, both horses did score below chance on one set. Experiment 2 examined long-term
categorization recall 10 years after horses had demonstrated the ability to make stimulus selections based on shared characteristics
within a given category. The horse tested for LTM after the decade-long interval immediately and consistently applied the
previously learned categorization rule to not only familiar but also novel sets of stimuli. Experiment 3 tested another horse
for LTM for a relative size concept. This horse had originally demonstrated concept rule use in order to select stimuli based
on their relative size to one another. More than 7 years later and without further training, this horse reliably applied the
previously established size concept to both familiar and novel sets of stimuli. These findings are the first reports of long-term
categorical and conceptual memory in horses and are consistent with observations of domestic and wild horses, which indicate
that behavioral and ecological events may be remembered for long periods of time. These studies also demonstrate the adaptive
nature of horses with regard to their ability to generalize over several different testing conditions. |
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Keywords: | Horse Long-term memory Concept Categorization Discrimination LCD display Equine |
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