Ontogeny of observational learning in the dog (Canis familiaris)

Abstract

A split-litter technique was used to test observational learning in 4 litters of Miniature Dachshund puppies, 21, 28, 38, and 60 days old at the beginning of the experiment. In one side of a duplicate cage, one puppy of a litter, the demonstrator, learned to pull in a food cart on a runner by means of a ribbon, while another puppy, the observer, watched from an adjacent compartment, separated by a wire screen. Observational learning was demonstrated by the saving in time for the 1st trial when the observer was given the same problem to solve. Maturation, particularly the development of visual function and motor coordination, set a lower age limit for the emergence of observational learning.

Neural correlates of the processing of another’s mistakes: A possible underpinning for social and observational learning

“…Monkeys show an ability to learn to use a stick to reach food outside their cage if such behavior is initially demonstrated by a human model (Tomasello, Davis-Dasilva, Camak & Bard 1987). Similar capacities for observational and social learning have been demonstrated in dogs (Adler and Adler 1977), dolphins (Krutzen et al 2005), octopi (Fiorito et al 1990) and pigeons (Biederman et al 1986). Such learning makes possible the acquisition of knowledge without direct personal experience, and allows for the prevention of common errors by observing the misfortune of others.…”

The World from a Dog’s Point of View

“…Researchers have also utilized object manipulation paradigms to determine whether watching a demonstration improves a dog's ability to solve such a task. Yet, Adler and Adler (1977) reported evidence of such social learning, showing that puppies learned to pull a ribbon to gain access to food faster after watching a littermate learn the task than when not observing a littermate learn the task. Thorndike (1911) originally tested whether his dogs were able to solve his puzzle boxes faster after watching another dog escape from them, Figure 5.10 Illustration of straight-fence detour task used in Mersmann et al (2011).…”

Social error monitoring in macaque frontal cortex

“…Third, almost nothing is known about how the neural system involved in observed-error processing contributes to the subsequent control of one's own behavior. Given that the ability to learn from others' behavior is a pervasive feature of many species [10][11][12][13][14] , the elucidation of underlying neuronal mechanisms is critically important.…”