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Author Werner, C.W.; Tiemann, I.; Cnotka, J.; Rehkamper, G. doi  openurl
  Title Do chickens (Gallus gallus f. domestica) decompose visual figures? Type Journal Article
  Year 2005 Publication (up) Animal Cognition Abbreviated Journal Anim. Cogn.  
  Volume 8 Issue 2 Pages 129-140  
  Keywords Animals; *Chickens; Conditioning, Classical; *Discrimination Learning; Female; *Pattern Recognition, Visual; Photic Stimulation; *Visual Perception  
  Abstract To investigate whether learning to discriminate between visual compound stimuli depends on decomposing them into constituting features, hens were first trained to discriminate four features (red, green, horizontal, vertical) from two dimensions (colour, line orientation). After acquisition, hens were trained with compound stimuli made up from these dimensions in two ways: a separable (line on a coloured background) stimulus and an integral one (coloured line). This compound training included a reversal of reinforcement of only one of the two dimensions (half-reversal). After having achieved the compound stimulus discrimination, a second dimensional training identical to the first was performed. Finally, in the second compound training the other dimension was reversed. Two major results were found: (1) an interaction between the dimension reversed and the type of compound stimulus: in compound training with colour reversal, separable compound stimuli were discriminated worse than integral compounds and vice versa in compound training with line orientation reversed. (2) Performance in the second compound training was worse than in the first one. The first result points to a similar mode of processing for separable and integral compounds, whereas the second result shows that the whole stimulus is psychologically superior to its constituting features. Experiment 2 repeated experiment 1 using line orientation stimuli of reversed line and background brightness. Nevertheless, the results were similar to experiment 1. Results are discussed in the framework of a configural exemplar theory of discrimination that assumes the representation of the whole stimulus situation combined with transfer based on a measure of overall similarity.  
  Address C. and O. Vogt Institute of Brain Research, Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Universitatsstr. 1, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany. wernerc@uni-duesseldorf.de  
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  ISSN 1435-9448 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes PMID:15490291 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2503  
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Author Gazit, I.; Goldblatt, A.; Terkel, J. doi  openurl
  Title The role of context specificity in learning: the effects of training context on explosives detection in dogs Type Journal Article
  Year 2005 Publication (up) Animal Cognition Abbreviated Journal Anim. Cogn.  
  Volume 8 Issue 3 Pages 143-150  
  Keywords Animals; *Association Learning; Conditioning, Classical; *Discrimination Learning; Dogs; *Environment; *Generalization, Stimulus; *Smell  
  Abstract Various experiments revealed that if an animal learns a stimulus-response-reinforcer relationship in one context and is then tested in another context there is usually a lessening of stimulus control, and the same discriminative stimuli that reliably controlled the behavior in the first context will have less effect in the new context. This reduction in performance is known as the “context shift effect.” The effect of changing context on the probability of detecting explosives was investigated in seven highly trained explosives detection dogs (EDDs). In experiment 1 the dogs were trained alternately on path A, which always had five hidden explosives, and on a very similar path B, which never had any explosives. Within a few sessions the dogs showed a significant decrease in search behavior on path B, but not on path A. In experiment 2 the same dogs were trained only on path B with a target density of one explosive hidden every 4th day. The probability of the dogs now detecting the explosive was found to be significantly lower than in experiment 1. In experiment 3 the effect of the low target density as used in experiment 2 was investigated on a new but very similar path C. Both the detection probability for the one explosive every 4th day on the new path and the motivation to search were significantly higher than found in experiment 2. Finally, in experiment 4, an attempt was made to recondition the dogs to search on path B. Although trained for 12 daily sessions with one explosive hidden every session, the dogs failed to regain the normal levels of motivation they had shown on both new paths and on the paths that they knew usually contained explosives. The findings reveal that even a very intensively trained EDD will rapidly learn that a specific stretch of path does not contain explosives. The dog will then be less motivated to search and will miss newly placed targets. This learning is specific to the formerly always-clean path and is to some extent irreversible. However, the dog will search and detect normally on new paths even if they are very similar to the always-clean path. The data are discussed in terms of variables affecting renewal. The results suggest that following training designed to make a behavior “context independent,” any extinction training will not generalize beyond that specific context used during the extinction training. In addition, if the behavior is extinguished in a specific context, it will be very difficult to restore that behavior in that context. These conclusions should be considered by anyone attempting to extinguish well-established trans-context behaviors.  
  Address Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel. iritgazi@post.tau.ac.il  
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  ISSN 1435-9448 ISBN Medium  
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  Notes PMID:15449101 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2509  
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Author Blaisdell, A.P.; Cook, R.G. doi  openurl
  Title Integration of spatial maps in pigeons Type Journal Article
  Year 2005 Publication (up) Animal Cognition Abbreviated Journal Anim. Cogn.  
  Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages 7-16  
  Keywords Animals; Appetitive Behavior/physiology; Association Learning/*physiology; Columbidae/*physiology; Conditioning, Classical/physiology; *Cues; Problem Solving/*physiology; Space Perception/*physiology; Spatial Behavior/physiology  
  Abstract The integration of spatial maps in pigeons was investigated using a spatial analog to sensory preconditioning. The pigeons were tested in an open-field arena in which they had to locate hidden food among a 4x4 grid of gravel-filled cups. In phase 1, the pigeons were exposed to a consistent spatial relationship (vector) between landmark L (a red L-shaped block of wood), landmark T (a blue T-shaped block of wood) and the hidden food goal. In phase 2, the pigeons were then exposed to landmark T with a different spatial vector to the hidden food goal. Following phase 2, pigeons were tested with trials on which they were presented with only landmark L to examine the potential integration of the phase 1 and 2 vectors via their shared common elements. When these test trials were preceded by phase 1 and phase 2 reminder trials, pigeons searched for the goal most often at a location consistent with their integration of the L-->T phase 1 and T-->phase 2 goal vectors. This result indicates that integration of spatial vectors acquired during phases 1 and 2 allowed the pigeons to compute a novel L-->goal vector. This suggests that spatial maps may be enlarged by successively integrating additional spatial information through the linkage of common elements.  
  Address Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA. blaisdell@psych.ucla.edu  
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  ISSN 1435-9448 ISBN Medium  
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  Notes PMID:15221636 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2521  
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Author Stoet, G.; Snyder, L.H. doi  openurl
  Title Task preparation in macaque monkeys ( Macaca mulatta) Type Journal Article
  Year 2003 Publication (up) Animal Cognition Abbreviated Journal Anim. Cogn.  
  Volume 6 Issue 2 Pages 121-130  
  Keywords Animals; *Cognition; Conditioning, Classical; Macaca mulatta/*psychology; Male; Reaction Time; Task Performance and Analysis; Visual Perception  
  Abstract We investigated whether macaque monkeys possess the ability to prepare abstract tasks in advance. We trained two monkeys to use different stimulus-response (S-R) mappings. On each trial, monkeys were first informed with a visual cue which of two S-R mapping to use. Following a delay, a visual target was presented to which they would respond with a left or right button-press. We manipulated delay time between cue and target and found that performance was faster and more accurate with longer delays, suggesting that monkeys used the delay time to prepare each task in advance.  
  Address Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S Euclid Ave., Box 8108, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. stoet@pcg.wustl.edu  
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  ISSN 1435-9448 ISBN Medium  
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  Notes PMID:12721788 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2572  
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Author Fairhurst, S.; Gallistel, C.R.; Gibbon, J. doi  openurl
  Title Temporal landmarks: proximity prevails Type Journal Article
  Year 2003 Publication (up) Animal Cognition Abbreviated Journal Anim. Cogn.  
  Volume 6 Issue 2 Pages 113-120  
  Keywords Animals; Columbidae; Conditioning, Operant; Reaction Time; *Time Perception  
  Abstract Subjects in conditioning experiments time their conditioned responses relative to the onsets of the conditioned stimuli (CSs). These onsets are temporal landmarks, by reference to which subjects may estimate the location of the unconditioned stimulus (US) in time. In a serial compound conditioning paradigm, a long duration CS comes on first, followed later by a second shorter CS, creating both a long-range and a short-range predictor of the US. We ask whether displacing the short-range predictor relative to the long-range predictor causes subjects to strike a compromise between the different temporal locations predicted by the two CSs. In three experiments with pigeons, we varied the training conditions so as to favor or militate against this outcome. However, in all conditions, there was no compromise; after the onset of the displaced short-range CS, the timing of conditioned responding was governed by it alone. This result contrasts with the compromises that are seen when the feeding time predicted by a CS is put in conflict with the time predicted by the circadian clock, and with the similar compromises sometimes seen when a nearby spatial landmark is displaced relative to a larger spatial context.  
  Address New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr., Unit 50, New York, NY 10032, USA  
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  Notes PMID:12720110 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2573  
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Author Weatherly, J.N.; Arthur, E.I.L.; Tischart, L.M. doi  openurl
  Title Altering “motivational” variables alters induction produced by upcoming food-pellet reinforcement Type Journal Article
  Year 2003 Publication (up) Animal Cognition Abbreviated Journal Anim. Cogn.  
  Volume 6 Issue 1 Pages 17-26  
  Keywords Animals; *Conditioning, Operant; Food Deprivation; Male; *Motivation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley  
  Abstract Previous research has demonstrated that rats will increase their rates of lever pressing for sucrose rewards in the first half of an experimental session when food pellets, rather than the same sucrose, continually serve as the reward in the second half of the session. This effect has been coined induction, and the present study investigated whether it could be altered by altering “motivational” variables. Experiment 1 manipulated subjects' motivation by altering, across conditions, their level of food deprivation. Predictably, the size of induction varied directly with level of deprivation. Experiments 2 and 3 manipulated subjects' motivation by feeding them food pellets and sucrose, respectively, prior to their responding in the experimental session. These pre-session feedings decreased the size of the observed induction in both experiments. The results from the present study indicate that the size of induction is correlated with subjects' motivation to respond for the available reinforcers. They are also consistent with the idea that operant processes underlie the effect. The notion that induction might encompass the concept of “anticipation” is also discussed.  
  Address Department of Psychology, University of North Dakota, ND 58202-8380, Grand Forks, USA. jeffrey_weatherly@und.nodak.edu  
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  Notes PMID:12658532 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2584  
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Author Okamoto, S.; Tomonaga, M.; Ishii, K.; Kawai, N.; Tanaka, M.; Matsuzawa, T. doi  openurl
  Title An infant chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) follows human gaze Type Journal Article
  Year 2002 Publication (up) Animal Cognition Abbreviated Journal Anim. Cogn.  
  Volume 5 Issue 2 Pages 107-114  
  Keywords Animals; Animals, Newborn/*psychology; Attention; *Cognition; Conditioning, Operant; Male; Pan troglodytes/*psychology; *Social Behavior; *Visual Perception  
  Abstract The ability of non-human primates to follow the gaze of other individuals has recently received much attention in comparative cognition. The aim of the present study was to investigate the emergence of this ability in a chimpanzee infant. The infant was trained to look at one of two objects, which an experimenter indicated by one of four different cue conditions: (1) tapping on the target object with a finger; (2) pointing to the target object with a finger; (3) gazing at the target object with head orientation; or (4) glancing at the target object without head orientation. The subject was given food rewards independently of its responses under the first three conditions, so that its responses to the objects were not influenced by the rewards. The glancing condition was tested occasionally, without any reinforcement. By the age of 13 months, the subject showed reliable following responses to the object that was indicated by the various cues, including glancing alone. Furthermore, additional tests clearly showed that the subject's performance was controlled by the “social” properties of the experimenter-given cues but not by the non-social, local-enhancing peripheral properties.  
  Address Department of Psychology, School of Letters, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan. sokamot@yahoo.co.jp  
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  Notes PMID:12150035 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2609  
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Author Shettleworth, S.J. openurl 
  Title Foraging, memory, and constraints on learning Type Journal Article
  Year 1985 Publication (up) Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Abbreviated Journal Ann N Y Acad Sci  
  Volume 443 Issue Pages 216-226  
  Keywords Animals; Animals, Wild; *Appetitive Behavior; *Avoidance Learning; Birds; *Conditioning, Classical; Discrimination Learning; Food Preferences; *Memory; *Mental Recall; Motivation; *Predatory Behavior; Rats; *Taste  
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  ISSN 0077-8923 ISBN Medium  
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  Notes PMID:3860072 Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 384  
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Author Rybarczyk, P.; Koba, Y.; Rushen, J.; Tanida, H.; de Passille, A.M. url  openurl
  Title Can cows discriminate people by their faces? Type Journal Article
  Year 2001 Publication (up) Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 74 Issue 3 Pages 175-189  
  Keywords Dairy cows; Human-animal relationships; Discrimination; Learning; Facial recognition; Operant conditioning  
  Abstract This experiment examines the cues used by cattle to discriminate between people, particularly the role played by facial cues. We trained and tested eight Holstein cows 5 days each week for 2 months. For each cow, we used two people, a rewarder and a non-rewarder, of different size and dressed in overalls of the same colour. The operant chamber was a large box within which stood the two people. The cow could see, smell and touch each person. A lever was placed in front of each person. When the cow pushed the lever in front of the rewarder, it received 75 g of concentrate and nothing when it pushed on the other one. For each test session, the cows made 10 choices. The placement of the people was determined randomly according to the Gellerman series. The success criterion was defined as at least eight correct choices out of 10 trials for two consecutive sessions (binomial law P<0.003). During the shaping, seven cows out of eight learned to press the lever to obtain the food. The cows were then tested in a series of 10 trials with only the rewarder present. Seven out of seven cows succeeded in reaching the success criterion. In experiment 1, both the rewarder and the non-rewarder were present and standing upright at normal height and in full view of the cow. Five out of seven cows achieved the success criterion. In experiment 2, the cows could see only the faces of the two people. None of the cows were able to reach the success criterion. In experiment 3, both people were present standing up and wearing identical masks that completely covered their heads. Five cows out of five achieved the success criterion. In experiment 4, we changed the relative height of the people. Five cows out of five succeeded when the two people stood so they were of equal height but with their faces visible. However, no cows succeeded when the people were both of equal height and had their faces covered. This study suggests that cows seem to use multiple cues to discriminate between people. Cows appear able to use either body height or the face to discriminate between people but use of the face alone is more difficult when the cows cannot see the rest of the body.  
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  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 849  
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Author McKinley, S.; Young, R.J. url  openurl
  Title The efficacy of the model-rival method when compared with operant conditioning for training domestic dogs to perform a retrieval-selection task Type Journal Article
  Year 2003 Publication (up) Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 81 Issue 4 Pages 357-365  
  Keywords Dogs; Learning; Operant conditioning; Model-rival; Cognition  
  Abstract Traditionally, dogs have been trained by operant conditioning techniques; that is, dogs make a desired behavioural response and this response is reinforced by a reward such as food. This type of training is very effective in training dogs to perform basic obedience behaviours (e.g. `stay'). However, dogs are social animals and should be predisposed to learn from social stimuli. In the present study, we used a modified version of the model-rival technique that has been extensively used in experiments investigating the cognitive ability of parrots. In this technique, social stimuli are used to create in the animal an interest in the object without the use of food or other rewards. Therefore, the animal learns the name of the object (intrinsic reward) and not that the object's name means food. In this experiment we compared the learning ability of nine pet dogs to solve the same retrieval-selection task having been previously trained using operant conditioning or model-rival techniques. The retrieval-selection task was the dogs had to correctly select the commanded object to bring to the experimenter from a group of three similar objects. The results show no difference in the speeds with which the dogs solved the test--demonstrating the efficacy of the model-rival method. This is the first time that the effectiveness of the model-rival technique has been experimentally demonstrated with dogs. Furthermore, we believe that the methodology reported in this paper has applications in dog training and in experiments into dog cognition.  
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2900  
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