Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Observational Learning01:12

Observational Learning

638
Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning...
638
Cognitive Learning01:21

Cognitive Learning

845
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
845
Associative Learning01:27

Associative Learning

878
Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...
878
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

1.7K
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or...
1.7K
Purposive Learning01:22

Purposive Learning

300
E. C. Tolman emphasized the purposiveness of behavior — the idea that much of our behavior is goal-directed. For instance, employees who aim for a promotion work diligently to meet their targets. Tolman argued that when classical conditioning and operant conditioning occur, the organism acquires certain expectations. In classical conditioning, a child might fear a dog because they expect it to bite. In operant conditioning, a person might consistently work overtime because they expect a...
300
Classical Conditioning01:18

Classical Conditioning

1.2K
Associative learning, a core principle in behavioral psychology, involves forming connections between events and facilitating learned responses. This concept is vividly illustrated by classical conditioning, a process extensively studied by the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov. Pavlov's pioneering research on dogs' digestive systems led to the discovery that behaviors can be learned through association, laying the groundwork for classical conditioning.
Ivan Pavlov observed that dogs...
1.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Commentary on MacKechnie-Guire et al. Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse's Face. <i>Animals</i> 2015, <i>15</i>, 537.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2026
Same author

COMPASS Guidelines for Conducting Welfare-Focused Research into Behaviour Modification of Animals.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2026
Same author

A systematic review on the effect of individual characteristics and management practices on equine cognition.

Animal cognition·2025
Same author

How the presence of a dog and types of interaction affect physiological responses to experimental heat pain induction in healthy humans - a randomized controlled study.

Physiology & behavior·2025
Same author

Comments on MacKechnie-Guire et al. (2024): Noseband type and tightness level affect pressure on the horse's face at trot.

Equine veterinary journal·2025
Same author

Comments on Clayton et al. (2024): Facial pressure beneath a cavesson noseband adjusted to different tightness levels during standing and chewing.

Equine veterinary journal·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 21, 2025

Novel Object Exploration as a Potential Assay for Higher Order Repetitive Behaviors in Mice
08:28

Novel Object Exploration as a Potential Assay for Higher Order Repetitive Behaviors in Mice

Published on: August 20, 2016

8.7K

Exploratory behaviour towards novel objects is associated with enhanced learning in young horses.

Janne Winther Christensen1, Line Peerstrup Ahrendt2, Jens Malmkvist2

  • 1Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830, Tjele, Denmark. jwc@anis.au.dk.

Scientific Reports
|January 15, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Curiosity, measured as exploratory behavior towards novel objects, positively impacts learning in young horses. This contrasts with domesticated species research, which often focuses on negative factors like stress.

More Related Videos

Novel Object Recognition Test for the Investigation of Learning and Memory in Mice
08:52

Novel Object Recognition Test for the Investigation of Learning and Memory in Mice

Published on: August 30, 2017

75.8K
Novel Object Recognition and Object Location Behavioral Testing in Mice on a Budget
05:57

Novel Object Recognition and Object Location Behavioral Testing in Mice on a Budget

Published on: November 20, 2018

57.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 21, 2025

Novel Object Exploration as a Potential Assay for Higher Order Repetitive Behaviors in Mice
08:28

Novel Object Exploration as a Potential Assay for Higher Order Repetitive Behaviors in Mice

Published on: August 20, 2016

8.7K
Novel Object Recognition Test for the Investigation of Learning and Memory in Mice
08:52

Novel Object Recognition Test for the Investigation of Learning and Memory in Mice

Published on: August 30, 2017

75.8K
Novel Object Recognition and Object Location Behavioral Testing in Mice on a Budget
05:57

Novel Object Recognition and Object Location Behavioral Testing in Mice on a Budget

Published on: November 20, 2018

57.8K

Area of Science:

  • Animal cognition
  • Comparative psychology
  • Equine behavior

Background:

  • Individual differences in learning are crucial for cognitive development.
  • Curiosity enhances learning in humans and primates.
  • Research in domesticated species often highlights negative factors like stress and fearfulness affecting cognition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between object-directed curiosity and learning performance in young horses.
  • To determine if exploratory behavior in novel situations correlates with learning ability.
  • To explore the role of intrinsic motivation in equine cognition.

Main Methods:

  • Young horses (n=44) were assessed for object-directed curiosity using standardized novel object tests at 5 months and 1 year of age.
  • Learning performance was evaluated using two distinct tasks: visual discrimination and pressure-release.
  • Physiological indicators of fear (heart rate, alertness) and exploratory behaviors were recorded.

Main Results:

  • Exploratory behavior towards novel objects consistently correlated with learning performance in both tasks.
  • Standard indicators of fearfulness were not related to learning performance.
  • Consistency in behavioral responses was observed between 5 months and 1 year of age.

Conclusions:

  • Object-directed curiosity, reflecting intrinsic motivation, is favorably linked to learning performance in young horses.
  • This finding contrasts with previous research on domesticated animals, suggesting curiosity may be a key factor in equine learning.
  • The results prompt further investigation into fostering curiosity and its effects on animal cognitive abilities.