20 horses at Nottingham Trent University showed model-based learning, challenging previous beliefs about their cognitive abilities.

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University discovered that horses possess higher cognitive abilities than previously believed, demonstrating the capacity for model-based learning in a study involving 20 horses. This ability, previously thought to be beyond the reach of horses due to an underdeveloped pre-frontal cortex, allowed them to adapt their strategies and improve their performance when faced with penalties for incorrect responses. The findings suggest that horses can form an internal model of their environment, aiding decision-making and prediction, and could have implications for animal welfare and training methods.

August 11, 2024
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