Are horses capable of mirror self-recognition? A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Ethology
• Animal Cognition
• Comparative Psychology

Background:

• Mirror Self-Recognition (MSR) is a complex cognitive ability observed in humans and a few select animal species.
• MSR indicates advanced social, emotional, and cognitive skills, including self-awareness.
• The presence of MSR in horses remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential for Mirror Self-Recognition (MSR) in domestic horses.
• To adapt and apply the classical mark test for assessing MSR in horses under naturalistic conditions.
• To explore horses' ability to integrate visual, tactile, and olfactory cues when interacting with a mirror.

Main Methods:

• Four horses in social, naturalistic settings were subjects.
• The classical mark test was employed, with a colored mark placed on an inaccessible body part.
• An enhanced paradigm included a double-check control, observing tactile and olfactory exploration of the mirror and its surroundings.

Main Results:

• Horses exhibited tactile and olfactory exploration of the mirror and investigated behind it, suggesting multi-sensory cue association.
• The study observed behaviors indicating horses perceived incongruence between the mirror image and their own body, comparing it to stored memory.
• Horses displayed self-directed behaviors towards colored marks visible only in the mirror.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest horses can detect discrepancies between their reflection and their internal representation of their body.
• Observed behaviors indicate a level of self-awareness and cognitive processing related to mirror stimuli.
• While promising, the results are preliminary, and further research is required to definitively confirm self-recognition in horses.