Title (en)
Emulative learning of a two-step task in free-ranging domestic pigs
Language
English
Description (en)
Previous research showed that young domestic pigs learn through observation of conspecifics by using social learning mechanisms like social facilitation, enhancement effects, and even object movement re-enactment. The latter suggests some form of emulative learning in which the observer learns about the object's movements and affordances. As it remains unclear whether pigs need a social agent to learn about objects, we provided 36 free-ranging domestic pigs with varying degrees of social to non-social demonstrations on how to solve a two-step manipulative foraging task: observers watched either a conspecific or a human demonstrator, or self-moving objects ("ghost control"), or a ghost control accompanied by an inactive conspecific bystander. In addition, 22 subjects that were previously tested without any demonstrator were used as a non-observer control. To solve the task, the subjects had to first remove a plug from its recess to then be able to slide a cover to the side, which would lay open a food compartment. Observers interacted longer with the relevant objects (plugs) and were more successful in solving the task compared to non-observers. We found no differences with regard to success between the four observer groups, indicating that the pigs mainly learned about the apparatus rather than about the actions. As the only common feature of the different demonstrations was the movement of the plug and the cover, we conclude the observer pigs learned primarily by emulation, suggesting that social agents are not necessary for pigs when learning through observation.
Keywords (en)
Human-Given-Cues; Local Enhancement; Animals; Scrofa; Mechanisms; Imitation; Humans; Evolution; Marmosets; Behavior
DOI
10.1007/s10071-022-01740-3
Author of the digital object
Ariane Veit  (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Ludwig Huber  (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Marianne Wondrak  (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Stefanie Weißhaupt  (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Arnaud Bruat  (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Format
application/pdf
Size
1.2 MB
Licence Selected
CC BY 4.0 International
Type of publication
Article
Name of Publication (en)
Animal Cognition
Pages or Volume
14
Volume
26
Number
3
From Page
929
To Page
942
Publisher
Springer
Publication Date
2023