Visual matching by a language-naive dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
- Shaw, M.
University of Hawaii, Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Lboratory, 1129
Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI, USA, 96814
-
- (C) 1990 University of Hawaii
In a previous study, Herman et al. (1989) presented the first
successful report of visual matching in a dolphin, using a limited
amount of acoustic cuing early in training. The subject had been
extensively trained in an artificial acoustic language. Using
procedures similar to those found successful by Herman et al.,
we trained a language-naïve dolphin in a 3-D and 2-D visual
matching without the use of acoustic cues in the current study.
After a total of 117 trials, 67 uncued, the subject’s matching
of 3-D objects was significantly above chance. After a total of
24 trials using eight 3-D stimuli, transfer was demonstrated both
in partial transfer tests pairing novel and familiar object with
each other. Performance on an interdimensional transfer test from
3-D to 2-D materials was significantly above chance initially,
but a subsequent drop in performance made claims of interdimensional
transfer disputable. Additionally, the subject maintained a representation
of 3-D sample stimuli in memory at performance levels of 80% or
better over delays of up to 40 sec, and 2-D sample stimuli at
performance levels of 70% or better over delays of up to 25 sec.
These results compared moderately well with previous reports of
acoustic and visual matching in dolphins and visual matching in
primates.
Shaw, M. (1990). Visual matching by a language-naive dolphin (Tursiops
truncatus). Unpublished master's theses. University of Hawaii,
Honolulu.
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