Effects of different intrastimulus interval on learning of the Konorski short-term memory test in dogs

Abstract

A differentiation of instrumental responses to auditory location stimuli using the Konorski Test was investigated. Each stimulus consisted of two components separated by intrastimulus interval. The components were click series presented from four loudspeakers situated in front of the animal, on horizontal and vertical axes. Each correct response, performed to the second component of positive stimulus, was rewarded by food. Responses to negative stimuli were not reinforced. Solving the test was possible by comparing the memory trace of the first component location, with location of actually presented second component. Two groups of dogs were trained. In one group positive and negative stimuli were presented, in which intrastimulus interval lasted 1 s. In the other group, differentiation training included stimuli with intrastimulus interval lasting 3 s. Unexpectedly, the first group was unable to reach differentiation criterion, whereas the second group reached criterion without difficulty. The effect of reaching the criterion with longer and not shorter interval between stimulus components, may be specifically related to location cues as opposed to reported earlier auditory quality stimuli.