NDLI: Shetland ponies (Equus caballus) show quantity discrimination in a matching-to-sample design

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Gabor, Vivian Gerken, Martina
Copyright Year	2014
Abstract	Numerical competence is one of the aspects of animal cognition with a long history of research interest, but few results are available for the horse. In the present study, we investigated the ability of three Shetland ponies to discriminate between different quantities of geometric symbols presented on a computer screen in a matching-to-sample arrangement. In Experiment 1, the ponies had to relate two similar quantities to another, paired in contrasts (1 vs. 2, 3 vs. 4 and 4 vs. 5) of the same stimulus (dot). Specific pairs of quantities (all differing by one) of up to five different geometrical symbols were displayed in Experiment 2. In each session, both quantities (more and less) were used as sample in such a way that each of the two quantities presented in one test served as positive and as negative stimulus, respectively. The three Shetland ponies were able to discriminate between the given quantities of dots by showing more than 80 % correct responses in two consecutive sessions. Only one of the ponies distinguished different shapes of geometric symbols at a level of 4 versus 5 items. The results show that all ponies were capable of visual quantity discrimination in the present matching-to-sample design, but task solving seemed more difficult when quantities were composed of heterogeneous stimuli. The present results confirm our hypothesis that the ponies based their decision on the matching concept of sameness and were not biased by a spontaneous preference for higher quantities.
Starting Page	1233
Ending Page	1243
Page Count	11
File Format	PDF
ISSN	14359448
Journal	Animal Cognition
Volume Number	17
Issue Number	6
e-ISSN	14359456
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publisher Date	2014-05-16
Publisher Place	Berlin, Heidelberg
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Quantity discrimination Shetland ponies Matching to sample Spontaneous preference Numerical ability Behavioural Sciences Zoology Human Physiology Evolutionary Biology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Experimental and Cognitive Psychology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Horses (Equus caballus) select the greater of two quantities in small numerical contrasts

Horses (Equus caballus) discriminate body odour cues from conspecifics

Cue use by foals (Equus caballus) in a discrimination learning task

Quantity matching by an orangutan (Pongo abelii)

Visual laterality in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) interacting with humans

Lateralized suckling in domestic horses (Equus caballus)

Quantity discrimination in female mosquitofish

Cross-modal recognition of human individuals in domestic horses (Equus caballus)

Long-term memory for categories and concepts in horses (Equus caballus)

Shetland ponies (Equus caballus) show quantity discrimination in a matching-to-sample design

Similar Documents

Horses (Equus caballus) select the greater of two quantities in small numerical contrasts

Horses (Equus caballus) discriminate body odour cues from conspecifics

Cue use by foals (Equus caballus) in a discrimination learning task

Quantity matching by an orangutan (Pongo abelii)

Visual laterality in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) interacting with humans

Lateralized suckling in domestic horses (Equus caballus)

Quantity discrimination in female mosquitofish

Cross-modal recognition of human individuals in domestic horses (Equus caballus)

Long-term memory for categories and concepts in horses (Equus caballus)

Shetland ponies (Equus caballus) show quantity discrimination in a matching-to-sample design