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Mal, M. E., & McCall, C. A. (1996). The influence of handling during different ages on a halter training test in foals. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 5(2), 115–120.
Abstract: Ten foals were used to determine effects of handling during different ages on their ability to perform a halter training test. Early-handled (EH) foals (n = 5) were handled in 10 min sessions 5 d weekly from 24 h after birth until 42 d of age, then were not handled from 43 to 84 d of age. Later-handled (LH) foals (n = 5) were not handled from birth to 42 d of age, then were handled in 10-min sessions 5 d weekly from 43 to 84 d of age. At 85 d of age, each foal was subjected to a 10 min halter training test for 5 consecutive d. The test consisted of an unfamiliar handler placing a halter on each foal and attempting to make the foal walk forward for 20 m. Data recorded during each d of the halter training were duration of initial struggle, number of lunges into the air, time to first forward step, time to five consecutive forward steps, and time to travel 20 m. At the end of the 5 d halter training test, the handler assigned a subjective test rating score to each foal based on ease of training. Split-plot analysis indicated that EH foals took less time (P < 0.05) to take one step forward, five consecutive steps forward, and to travel 20 m than LH foals. One-way ANOVA indicated that EH foals had a lower (more desirable) test ratings than LH foals (P < 0.01). Results indicate that handling throughout the first 42 d of life increased foal performance on this halter training task compared to handling from 43 to 84 d of age. These results may imply the existence of a critical handling period during the first 42 d of age or a phenomenon similar to learned helplessness
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Macphail, E. M. (1996). Cognitive function in mammals: the evolutionary perspective. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res, 3(3-4), 279–290.
Abstract: The work of behavioural pharmacologists has concentrated on small animals, such as rodents and pigeons. The validity of extrapolation of their findings to humans depends upon the existence of parallels in both physiology and psychology between these animals and humans. This paper considers the question whether there are in fact substantial cognitive parallels between, first, different non-human groups of vertebrates and, second, non-humans and humans. Behavioural data from 'simple' tasks, such as habituation and conditioning, do not point to species differences among vertebrates. Using examples that concentrate on the performance of rodents and birds, it is argued that, similarly, data from more complex tasks (learning-set formation, transitive inference, and spatial memory serve as examples) reveal few if any cognitive differences amongst non-human vertebrates. This conclusion supports the notion that association formation may be the critical problem-solving process available to non-human animals; associative mechanisms are assumed to have evolved to detect causal links between events, and would therefore be relevant in all ecological niches. In agreement with this view, recent advances in comparative neurology show striking parallels in functional organisation of mammalian and avian telencephalon. Finally, it is argued that although the peculiarly human capacity for language marks a large cognitive contrast between humans and non-humans, there is good evidence-in particular, from work on implicit learning--that the learning mechanisms available to non--humans are present and do play an important role in human cognition.
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Zachritz W.H., Lundie L.L., Wang H., & Thomas R.K. (1996). Investigating cognitive abilities in animals: unrealized potential. Cognitive Brain Research, 3, 157–166.
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Bizot J.-C., & Thiebot M.-H. (1996). Impulsivity as a confounding factor in certain animal tests of cognitive function. Cognitive Brain Research, 3, 243–250.
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Davidsson T.E., Leonardson L.G., & Marston H.M. (1996). Analysis of cognitive function in animals, the value of SDT. Cognitive Brain Research, 3, 269–277.
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Kroodsma, D. E., & Miller, E. H. (Eds.). (1996). Ecology and evolution of acoustic communication in birds. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
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Heyes, C., & Galef, B. G. (Eds.). (1996). Social learning in animals: the roots of culture. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, Inc.
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Fragaszy, D., & Visalberghi, E. (1996). Primates “primacy” reconsidered. In C. Heyes, & B. G. Galef (Eds.), Social learning in animals: the roots of culture (pp. 65–84). Academic Press, Inc.
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Feh, C., Enchbold, S., & Munchtuya, B. (1996). Preliminary assessment of the Gurvan Saikhan National Conservation Park's potential for Gobi khulan (Equus hemionus luteus). GTZ, .
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King, S. R. B. (1996). The social behaviour of a bachelor group of Przewalski horses under free-ranging conditions. Queen Mary and Westfield College, .
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