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Evans, LK, 2024. Learning on the blink: physiological predictors of adaptive learning in an equine model. PhD, Nottingham Trent University.
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Abstract
Domestic horses are regularly expected to demonstrate behavioural flexibility, the ability to adapt to changing environments, such as different riders and handlers. On the other hand, safe and successful equestrian activities rely on the horse to give consistent responses to important commands, demonstrating cognitive control. Striatal dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in learning and may be related to spontaneous eye blink rate. Physiological arousal is known to influence cognitive performance in humans, but little is known about the relationship between arousal and learning in domestic horses. The aim of this thesis was to investigate novel physiological predictors of learning performance in horses. The same cohort of horses were investigated in a series of cognitive tasks, designed to challenge various aspects of cognitive flexibility and cognitive control. Spontaneous eye blink rate, heart rate variability and eye temperature were measured throughout as possible predictors of learning performance. It was revealed that horses’ arousal state at baseline and during training reliably predicts cognitive performance. In addition, this thesis provided preliminary evidence that hemispheric activation may be observable through lateralised eye temperature changes Further, it was revealed that horses may have higher cognitive capabilities than previously thought. This thesis makes several novel contributions to knowledge about equine learning, cognition and welfare.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Evans, L.K. |
| Contributors: | Name Role NTU ID ORCID |
| Date: | June 2024 |
| Rights: | The copyright in this work is held by the author. You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study, or personal, non-commercial research. Any re-use of the information contained within this document should be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed to the author. |
| Divisions: | Schools > School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences |
| Record created by: | Laura Borcherds |
| Date Added: | 10 Jun 2025 12:40 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Jun 2025 12:40 |
| URI: | https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/53716 |
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