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Fast- and slow-exploring pigeons differ in how they use previously learned rules

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Guillette_2016_BP_Pigeons_AM.pdf (852.6Kb)
Date
01/2017
Author
Guillette, L. M.
Baron, D. M.
Sturdy, C. B.
Spetch, M. L.
Keywords
Animal personality
Cognition
Exploratory behaviour
Generalization
Individual differences
Pigeon
QH301 Biology
BF Psychology
NDAS
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Abstract
Several studies report a correlation between exploratory behaviour and performance on tests of cognitive ability. Exploration may influence learning because less exploratory animals are less likely to come in contact with to-be-learned stimuli. Alternatively, the way information available in the environment is processed could influence the rate of exploration. Pigeons are one of the most-studied species used to examine the mechanisms underlying cognitive abilities, but have not been used to examine the relationship between these abilities and animal personality. Here, twelve pigeons were first tested in a novel environment to assess repeatability in exploratory behaviour. Pigeons were then trained to discriminate between two visual stimuli: lines oriented at 90° (vertical, the S + ) and 135° (the S-). After training pigeons underwent generalization testing with ten additional visual line orientation stimuli. We found exploratory behaviour was related to generalization performance: fast-explorers had steeper generalization gradients compared to slow-explorers. This effect was only seen in the direction towards the S-. These results suggest that birds with different exploratory styles differ in how they use previously learned information. Further testing is needed to confirm which cue(s) (S+ or S-) control the behaviour of fast-explorers.
Citation
Guillette , L M , Baron , D M , Sturdy , C B & Spetch , M L 2017 , ' Fast- and slow-exploring pigeons differ in how they use previously learned rules ' , Behavioural Processes , vol. 134 , pp. 54-62 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2016.07.006
Publication
Behavioural Processes
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2016.07.006
ISSN
0376-6357
Type
Journal article
Rights
© 2016, Published by Elsevier BV. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at www.sciencedirect.com / https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2016.07.006
Description
L.M.G. was supported by an Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship (IWKMS) at University of Alberta and is currently supported by a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Anniversary Future Leaders Fellowship. Support for this research was provided by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grants to M.L.S and C.B.S. C.B.S. was additionally supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Accelerator Supplement.
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  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/11547

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