Consistency and flexibility in solving spatial tasks: different horses show different cognitive styles.

ABSTRACT: Individual animals vary in their behaviour and reactions to novel situations. These differences may extend to differences in cognition among individuals. We tested twenty-six horses for their ability to detour around symmetric and asymmetric obstacles. All of the animals were able to get around the barrier to reach a food target, but varied in their approach. Some horses moved slowly but were more accurate in choosing the shortest way. Other horses acted quickly, consistently detoured in the same direction, and did not reliably choose the shortest way. The remaining horses shifted from a faster, directionally consistent response with the symmetric barrier, to a slower but more accurate response with the asymmetric barrier. The asymmetric barrier induced a reduction in heart rate variabilit

SUBMITTER: Baragli P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5707407 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature