Abstract
Only a limited number of species have been found capable of generalized matching-to-sample (MTS) after exposure to relatively few training exemplars. We trained a juvenile, experimentally naive California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) in MTS, using a pair of three-dimensional objects as samples. Successful matching to a criterion of 90% correct or better over 2 successive sessions was attained in 12 sessions (269 trials and 70 errors). Two subsequent “partial” transfer tests, in which each of the two training objects was paired with a novel test object, and four additional transfer tests, all with novel objects, were presented following training. An 80% performance criterion over 2 successive sessions was reached, or closely approximated, in from 2 to 4 transfer sessions for all transfer tests; errors to criterion tended to be reduced across the successive novel transfer tests and were as few as five during the final two tests; and performance on the first 48 trials of the last two novel transfers was not significantly different from a near-ceiling level baseline performance measure. Neophobic responses of the sea lion to new objects precluded an unbiased evaluation of immediate (Trial 1) transfer. The sea lion’s short-term memory for sample objects was also measured. Matching performance was maintained at a level of 78% correct responses or better for delays through to 45 sec after removal of the sample object. At a 58-sec delay, the longest tested, performance declined to 69% correct responses. These retention levels are only somewhat below levels reported for dolphins and nonhuman primates tested on visual delayed MTS, but they are above levels typically reported for pigeon subjects.
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This research was supported in part by Contract N00014-85-K-0210 from the Office of Naval Research to L. M. Herman and by a grant from Earthwatch. We are grateful to Sea Life Park, Oahu, and their former director of training, Ingrid Shallenberger, for generosity in providing research space, the research animal, and much help in the care of the sea lion. Kathy Sdao helped greatly throughout the testing of the sea lion, and Anne Windsor provided valuable assistance during Experiment 2. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 1987 meeting of the Animal Behavior Society in Williamstown, MA.
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Pack, A.A., Herman, L.M. & Roitblat, H.L. Generalization of visual matching and delayed matching by a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Animal Learning & Behavior 19, 37–48 (1991). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197858
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197858