McBride S D, Perentos N, Morton A J
Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK,
Anim Cogn. 2015 Jan;18(1):361-71. doi: 10.1007/s10071-014-0807-3. Epub 2014 Oct 17.
Mirror image-induced stimulation and the ability to use the mirror to improve navigational ability for the purpose of object location are considered measures of animal cognitive ability. The purpose of this study was to assess these cognitive abilities in sheep (Ovis aries) as part of a larger programme profiling the cognitive ability of this animal species. Three separate groups of sheep [(n = 29); 10 Welsh Mountain, 8 Norfolk Horned and 11 Borderdale] were trained (≥80 % criterion) to locate a salient object (yellow bucket containing cereal-based food) in one of two possible positions, from one of two possible starting points. Each group of sheep was then divided into two sub-groups. One sub-group was exposed to a mirror over a period of 15 days (mirror exposed), whilst the other group remained mirror naïve. All animals were then retested within the choice maze using the mirror, where two out of the possible four bucket positions were now 'apparent' (as reflections in the mirror), in order to assess whether mirror-exposed animals had a more accurate representation of the real bucket position. Sheep exhibited two out of the three archetypal stages of mirror-induced behaviour, namely social/exploratory and contingency behaviour, with differences existing between breeds. Welsh Mountain sheep spent significantly more time fixating on the self-image and touching the self-image with their muzzle than the other two breeds. During the test phase, no overall differences in performance were observed between the mirror-exposed and mirror-naïve groups. However, Welsh Mountain sheep did perform significantly more correct responses overall, compared to the other two breeds. Although the data did not convincingly demonstrate that sheep could use a reflective surface to improve their navigational ability, the observed differences between groups suggests that some breeds of sheep may demonstrate better navigational ability as well as having a greater engagement with the self-image than others.
镜像诱导刺激以及利用镜子提高寻找物体位置的导航能力被视为动物认知能力的衡量指标。本研究的目的是评估绵羊（Ovis aries）的这些认知能力，这是对该动物物种认知能力进行全面分析的一个更大项目的一部分。将三组不同的绵羊（每组n = 29只；10只威尔士山地羊、8只诺福克角羊和11只边境代尔羊）训练至（达到≥80%的标准）能够从两个可能的起始点之一，在两个可能的位置之一找到一个显眼的物体（装有谷物类食物的黄色桶）。然后，每组绵羊被分成两个亚组。一个亚组在15天的时间内接触镜子（接触镜子组），而另一组则不接触镜子（未接触镜子组）。之后，所有动物在选择迷宫中使用镜子进行重新测试，此时四个桶位置中的两个现在是“可见的”（作为镜子中的反射），以评估接触镜子的动物是否对真实桶的位置有更准确的认知。绵羊表现出了镜像诱导行为的三个典型阶段中的两个，即社交/探索行为和应急行为，不同品种之间存在差异。与其他两个品种相比，威尔士山地羊花费显著更多的时间注视自身镜像并用口鼻触碰自身镜像。在测试阶段，接触镜子组和未接触镜子组在表现上没有观察到总体差异。然而，与其他两个品种相比，威尔士山地羊总体上做出的正确反应明显更多。尽管数据没有令人信服地证明绵羊能够利用反射面提高其导航能力，但观察到的组间差异表明，某些品种的绵羊可能比其他品种表现出更好的导航能力，并且与自身镜像的互动更多。
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