Spontaneous object recognition in the Göttingen minipig.
Göttingen minipigs were tested in an object recognition procedure based on spontaneous exploration. Eight pigs were exposed to two similar objects in a sample trial and after a one-hour delay exposed to two objects, one familiar and one novel, in a test trial. The pigs explored the novel object significantly more than the familiar object in the test trial (p<0.05), thereby showing recognition of the familiar object. Furthermore, habituation of exploration of the familiar object between the sample trial and the test trial was found (p<0.05). The procedure can be useful for testing of spontaneous trial-unique memory in pigs.
Moustgaard
Anette
A
Department of Psychiatry, H:S Bispebjerg, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. anmo@kvl.dk
Lind
Nanna Marie
NM
Hemmingsen
Ralf
R
Hansen
Axel Kornerup
AK
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D013556:Swine, Miniature