The present experimental study deals with question, whether dogs are able to orient their behaviour to stimuli which differ only by the number of identical clicks presented in successive series with variable interstimulus interval. Some dogs elaborated alimentary or defensive motor conditioned reflexes nd differentiations to them being in classical conditions in experimental chamber. In other dogs running to the feeding trough was elaborated and a differentiation to it in response to series of clicks differing only by one signal. It was established that the parameters of conditioned positive and negative reactions (latency, rate and realization frequency) statistically depended on the number of clicks in the series and did not depend upon its temporal characteristics (interstimulus intervals and duration). The conclusion is made that in CNS of dogs, elementary form of counting a signals takes place, and that the integrated result of this count might serve as a key to evoke positive or negative conditioned reaction.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Reflection of quantitative parameters of a series of nonreinforced heteromodal signals in cortical evoked potentials].

Systematic presentation to dogs of series, standard in number of sound, electro-cutaneous or visual stimuli, leads to a development of U-shaped dependence of cortical evoked potentials (EPs) on the stimulus position in the series. This indicates that in the dog's CNS an estimation is formed of the quantitative structure of the applied series, shaped in a similar way for stimuli of all of these modalities. Singling-out of the stimulus quantitative property results from a simple repetition of the series without any reinforcement, i.e. in the course of perceptual learning. Dependence of the EP on its position in the series appears earlier and with a greater stability in the projection of the stimulus modality than in cortical areas of other modalities. The dependence of the EP on signal position in a series of unimodal stimuli is relatively rapidly reproduced following a transition to similar series of other modalities. This suggests a possibility of transfer of the estimation of quantitative series structure from one modality analyser to another one.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The characteristics of the discrimination of the number of sequential signals in dogs].

Food instrumental asymmetrical differentiation (discrimination) between the reinforced train of five identical clicks administered with variable interstimulus intervals and the non-reinforced train of the same three clicks was elaborated in six dogs. At the stable stage of conditioning, the number of instrumental reactions to five clicks was twice higher than to three clicks. Temporal parameters of such kind of counting reactions are analyzed. A conclusion is made that dogs, can discriminate the number of identical signals in the consecutive train and use this parameter in their adaptive behaviour. Types of the internal inhibition which participate in the above-described differentiation are considered.

Acoustic Stimulation↗