![]() However, it is important to control the use of such cues so that only information about the type or category of food itself, rather than the quality of a single instance, is used to guide responses. Of course, presentation of food items via images on a touchscreen has weaknesses that are directly related to its strengths subjects cannot use olfactory or tactile cues, which are important in identifying and assessing real food items and can offset deficits in vision. Choices across pairs of items can be ranked to indicate relative preferences for various items. ![]() It also facilitates randomization of pairings and presentation order of stimuli and allows precise measurement of latencies to make a response. Additionally, it avoids the potential of biasing the response by holding one item closer to the subject, or directing more eye contact to a particular item, for example. The use of images presented on a touchscreen has the advantage that it controls for differences in quality indicated by scent, size and other factors that may be difficult to control using actual food items. Touchscreens are an innovative method to present animals with images of food items that they can select to indicate which food they would like to consume. Food preferences in captivity have been assessed variously using forced-choice tasks, e.g.,, giving up density measures, e.g.,, progressive ratio techniques, e.g.,, multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO) procedures, e.g., and other behavioral measures. Thus, we present validation of an empirical task to assess relative food preferences in nonhuman subjects and a test of the stability of assessed preferences.Ĭaptivity presents the opportunity to investigate food preferences without the confounds of resource scarcity and competition. Zoo personnel may also tend to assume similar preferences for all members of the same species, rather than appreciating individual preferences. Furthermore, past research has identified that trainer and caregiver perceptions do not predict which food items function as effective reinforcers in both humans and animals. It will necessitate an evaluation of how preferences change over time, and relative to the presentation of other options. However, assessing the efficacy of reinforcers requires more than a one-time assessment of ranked preferences. In addition, as pointed out by others, identifying highly preferred foods may reduce the need for food adjustment schedules to motivate animals. Knowledge of preferences will also be crucial when attempting to stimulate appetite in animals upon recovery from surgeries or during illness. For example, use of preferred reinforcers can improve the efficacy of training techniques, reducing discomfort when training animals, for example, to receive injections or place a limb in a restraint. Assessing the capacity of different reinforcers to motivate subjects can improve performance in husbandry and research tasks and enhance animal welfare. Using preferred food items is essential to ensure that animals receive adequate nutrition, and that they are motivated to perform required tasks and to interact with their environment. Researchers should assess how choices affect subsequent preferences to understand whether animals demonstrate absolute preferences for particular food items, or prefer variety.įood is perhaps the most important resource provided to captive animals and is frequently used as a reward during training and as enrichment. However, selections of some food items changed within sessions, suggesting that preference may be relative to other contextual factors. Furthermore, gorillas selected images of preferred over less preferred foods in a validation task on the touchscreen. Ranked preferences were correlated across method and seasons. We also presented the gorillas with two-alternative forced-choice tests between images of these foods on a touchscreen computer. We presented three male gorillas with choices between randomly selected pairs of actual food items from their morning meal using PVC feeders. Presenting preference assessments using images of food items allows control over factors such as size, scent, and inadvertent cueing but requires validation. It is important to assess the stability of food preferences given that one-time preferences are often used to inform which items are offered over a longer period of time. Decisions about which foods to use during training and enrichment for captive animals may be based on invalid assumptions about individuals’ preferences.
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