Spontaneous object recognition in the Göttingen minipig

Neural Plast. 2002;9(4):255-9. doi: 10.1155/NP.2002.255.

Abstract

Göttingen minipigs were tested in an object recognition procedure based on spontaneous exploration. Eight pigs were exposed to two similar objects in a sample trial and after a one-hour delay exposed to two objects, one familiar and one novel, in a test trial. The pigs explored the novel object significantly more than the familiar object in the test trial (p<0.05), thereby showing recognition of the familiar object. Furthermore, habituation of exploration of the familiar object between the sample trial and the test trial was found (p<0.05). The procedure can be useful for testing of spontaneous trial-unique memory in pigs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Habituation, Psychophysiologic / physiology
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Recognition, Psychology / physiology*
  • Swine, Miniature*