title: Landmark discrimination learning in the dog.
abstract: Allocentric spatial memory was studied in dogs of varying ages and sources using a landmark discrimination task. The primary goal of this study was to develop a protocol to test landmark discrimination learning in the dog. Using a modified version of a landmark test developed for use in monkeys, we successfully trained dogs to make a spatial discrimination on the basis of the position of a visual landmark relative to two identical discriminanda. Task performance decreased, however, as the distance between the landmark and the "discriminandum" was increased. A subgroup of these dogs was also tested on a delayed nonmatching to position spatial memory task (DNMP), which relies on egocentric spatial cues. These findings suggest that dogs can acquire both allocentric and egocentric spatial tasks. These data provide a useful tool for evaluating the ability of canines to use allocentric cues in spatial learning.
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Milgram
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Callahan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thirlwell
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cotman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*