Lateralization in accuracy, reaction time and behavioral processes in a visual discrimination task in an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)

Mátrai, Eszter; Hoffmann‐Kuhnt, Matthias; Kwok, Shaw Ting

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2019.02.003

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Thus, it makes it possible to conduct interspecies comparisons and to solve one of the problems in the cognitive studies on cetaceans, i.e., where the target species has been limited to bottlenose dolphins. Similar to the present study, there have been several attempts to apply computerized tasks that have been used mainly with the terrestrial mammals to underwater mammals [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 61 ]. The widespread use of these methods in cognitive studies of underwater mammals will make interspecies comparisons across a wide range of species easier not only with other underwater animals but also with terrestrial animals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…However, the situation of having those devices in direct contact with underwater animals is difficult to achieve because the electro-magnetic grid over the touch panel would be short-circuited by the salt water [40]. There have been a few examples of previous studies using touch panels on a sea lion [41] and dolphins [42], but most of these studies were also conducted in the air, such as in poolside environments. Even though their visual abilities are most frequently used in water, the fact that these experiments have been conducted in air calls into question the validity of these methods for examining the true visual abilities of these underwater mammals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Matching-to-Sample Task Training of a Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

Santa,

Kanda,

Kako

et al. 2024

Animals

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Matching-to-sample tasks have been a useful method in visual cognitive studies on non-human animals. The use of touch panels in matching-to-sample tasks has contributed to cognitive studies on terrestrial animals; however, there has been a difficulty in using these devices underwater, which is one of the factors that has slowed the progress of visual studies on underwater animals. Cetaceans (e.g., dolphins and whales) are highly adapted to underwater environments, and further studies on their cognitive abilities are needed to advance our understanding of the interactions between environmental factors and the evolution of cognitive abilities. In this study, we aimed to develop a new experimental method in which a captive killer whale performed a matching-to-sample task using a monitor shown through an underwater window as if a touch panel were used. In order to confirm the usefulness of this method, one simple experiment on mirror image discrimination was conducted, and the pairs with mirror images were shown to be more difficult to identify than the pairs with other normal images. The advantages of using this method include (1) simplicity in the devices and stimuli used in the experiments, (2) appropriate and rigorous experimental control, (3) the possibility of increasing the number of individuals to be tested and interspecies comparisons, and (4) contributions to animal welfare. The use of this method solves some of the problems in previous visual cognitive studies on cetaceans, and it suggests the further possibility of future comparative cognitive studies. It is also expected to contribute to animal welfare in terms of cognitive enrichment, and it could help with the proposal of new exhibition methods in zoos and aquariums.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Matching-to-Sample Task Training of a Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

Santa,

Kanda,

Kako

et al. 2024

Animals

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“…A different bottlenose dolphin group tested in an audiovisual matching task performed better when using the right eye, suggesting left hemisphere dominance for visual and auditory stimuli (Delfour & Marten, 2006). In contrast, a study assessing accuracy of visual processing in a single bottlenose dolphin indicated that this animal responded faster when using the left eye (Matrai et al, 2019).…”

Section: Visual Discriminationmentioning

confidence: 93%

Laterality of Eye Use by Bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and Rough-Toothed (Steno bredanensis) Dolphins While Viewing Predictable and Unpredictable Stimuli

Lilley¹,

Vere²,

Yeater³

2020

IJCP

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Laterality of eye use has been increasingly studied in cetaceans. Research supports that many cetacean species keep prey on the right side while feeding and preferentially view unfamiliar objects with the right eye. In contrast, the left eye has been used more by calves while in close proximity to their mothers. Despite some discrepancies across and within species, laterality of eye use generally indicates functional specialization of brain hemispheres in cetaceans. The present study aimed to examine laterality of eye use in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) under managed care. Subjects were video-recorded through an underwater window while viewing two different stimuli, one predictable and static and the other unpredictable and moving. Bottlenose dolphins displayed an overall right-eye preference, especially while viewing the unpredictable, moving stimulus. Rough-toothed dolphins did not display eye preference while viewing stimuli. No significant correlations between degree of laterality and behavioral interest in the stimuli were found. Only for bottlenose dolphins were the degree of laterality and curiosity ratings correlated. This study extends research on cetacean lateralization to a species not extensively examined and to stimuli that varied in movement and degree of predictability. Further research is needed to make conclusions regarding lateralization in cetaceans.

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“…By training the caretakers and the animals to perform medical behaviours, many high-risk procedures can be carried out without the need for chemical or manual restraint [53,54]. The animals become voluntary participants in their own preventative medical management [37,40,46,51,53] and willing participants in research programs [39,40,44,51,55,56], transforming stressful procedures into positive events while reducing risks and costs [38,42,43,[45][46][47][48]52,53]. Medical procedures that were previously coercive and stressful are turned into rewarding and enriching experiences, increasing trust between caretakers and animals.…”

Section: Medical Husbandry-integrating Operant Conditioning In Preven...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Preventative Medicine Programs in Animal Welfare and Wellbeing in Zoological Institutions

Martelli¹,

Krishnasamy²

2023

Animals

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The overarching goal of a preventative medicine program is to minimize the chances of health problems developing and to maximize the chances of detecting health problems early, in a manner that best benefits the animals and the organization. The traditional paradigms of animal welfare, stemming from the five freedoms and being progressively fleshed out to five domains, the 24/7 approach and so forth do not apply perfectly to zoological collections and less so to animals undergoing veterinary treatments. The physiology and behaviour of animals undergoing veterinary treatments, including therapeutic, quarantine and preventative medicine, are derailed from their normal states and their choices and comfort are de facto limited. A paradigm separating animal wellbeing from animal welfare is necessary to instil clarity of thought and to guide actions in regard to the welfare of animals under human care. Using such a model, preventative medicine programs emerge as a cornerstone of zoo and aquarium animal welfare, all the more if it incorporates modern veterinary and husbandry techniques, including operant conditioning.

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Lateralization in accuracy, reaction time and behavioral processes in a visual discrimination task in an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)

Cited by 10 publications

References 49 publications

Matching-to-Sample Task Training of a Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

Matching-to-Sample Task Training of a Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

Laterality of Eye Use by Bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and Rough-Toothed (Steno bredanensis) Dolphins While Viewing Predictable and Unpredictable Stimuli

The Role of Preventative Medicine Programs in Animal Welfare and Wellbeing in Zoological Institutions

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