Measuring and understanding individual differences in cognition

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 373(1756), P. 20170280 - 20170280

Published: Aug. 13, 2018

Individuals vary in their cognitive performance. While this variation forms the foundation of study human psychometrics, its broader importance is only recently being recognized. Explicitly acknowledging individual found both humans and non-human animals provides a novel opportunity to understand mechanisms, development evolution cognition. The papers special issue highlight growing emphasis on differences from fields as diverse neurobiology, experimental psychology evolutionary biology. Here, we synthesize body work. We consider distinct challenges quantifying cognition provide concrete methodological recommendations. In particular, future studies would benefit using multiple task variants ensure they target specific, clearly defined traits conducting repeated testing assess consistency. then how neural, genetic, developmental behavioural factors may generate Finally, discuss potential fitness consequences place these into an framework with testable hypotheses. intend for stimulate researchers position at centre sciences.This article part theme 'Causes abilities'.

Language: Английский

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Comparative psychometrics: establishing what differs is central to understanding what evolves

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 373(1756), P. 20170283 - 20170283

Published: Aug. 13, 2018

Cognitive abilities cannot be measured directly. What we can measure is individual variation in task performance. In this paper, first make the case for why should interested mapping differences performance onto particular cognitive abilities: suggest that it crucial examining causes and consequences of both within between species. As a study, examine whether multiple measures inhibitory control non-human animals do indeed produce correlated performance; however, no clear pattern emerges would support notion common ability underpinning We advocate psychometric approach involving three-step programme to theoretical empirical progress: first, need tasks reveal signature limits Second, assess reliability Third, multi-trait multi-method test batteries will instrumental validating abilities. Together, these steps help us establish what varies individuals could impact their fitness ultimately shape course evolution animal minds. Finally, propose executive functions, including working memory, attentional shifting, as sensible starting point endeavour. This article part theme issue ‘Causes abilities’.

Language: Английский

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Animal Cognition in an Urbanised World

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: March 4, 2021

Explaining how animals respond to an increasingly urbanised world is a major challenge for evolutionary biologists. Urban environments often present with novel problems that differ from those encountered in their past. To navigate these rapidly changing habitats successfully, may need adjust behaviour flexibly over relatively short timescales. These behavioural changes, turn, be facilitated by ability acquire, store, and process information the environment. The question of cognitive abilities allow avoid threats exploit resources (or constrain do so) attracting increasing research interest, growing number studies investigating differences between urban-dwelling non-urban counterparts. In this review we consider why such might arise, focusing on informational challenges faced living urban environments, different can assist overcoming challenges. We focus largely birds, as avian taxa have been subject most date, but discuss work other species where relevant. also address potential consequences variation at individual level. For instance, select for, or influence development of, particular abilities? Are individuals phenotypes more likely become established habitats? How factors, social personality, interact cognition environments? aim synthesise current knowledge identify key avenues future research, order improve our understanding ecological urbanisation.

Language: Английский

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Identifying Microbiome-Mediated Behaviour in Wild Vertebrates

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 35(11), P. 972 - 980

Published: July 28, 2020

Language: Английский

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Laterality 2020: entering the next decade

Laterality Asymmetries of Body Brain and Cognition, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 26(3), P. 265 - 297

Published: Aug. 12, 2020

In the 2010s, significant progress has been made in several key areas of laterality research, including neuroimaging, genetics and comparative research. present article, we discuss which trends are likely to shape research 2020s. These include, but not limited to: (1) Finding laterality-specific solutions replication crisis. (2) Integrating non-W.E.I.R.D. (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) samples into a larger extent. (3). Combining meta-analysis large-scale databank studies come unbiased conclusions about true effects. (4) Understanding altered different psychiatric neurodevelopmental disorders. (5) Exploring relevance for treatment (6) Investigating molecular correlates environmental factors that affect laterality. (7) Bridging gap between human subjects non-human model species. (8) Utilizing "next-generation" neuroimaging (9) graph-theory machine learning (10) Enhancing ecological validity using mobile EEG smartphone-based data collection. will next decade by opening way novel questions, enhancing collaborations boosting reliability findings our field.

Language: Английский

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Age-related effects on a hierarchical structure of canine cognition

GeroScience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 46(6), P. 5843 - 5874

Published: March 21, 2024

The current study investigates whether there are statistically independent age-related influences on the canine cognitive structure and how individual factors moderate aging both cross-sectional longitudinal samples. A battery of seven tasks was administered to 129 pet dogs, which exploratory confirmatory factor analyses were employed unveil correlational underlying differences in performance. best-fitting model featured a hierarchical with two first-order domains (individual problem solving, learning) second-order common factor. These higher order exhibited consistency over period at least 2.5 years. External validation linked positively discrimination reversal learning performance, exploration, neophilia, activity/excitability, training level while negatively dysfunction symptoms, suggesting that it is good candidate for general (canine g). Structural equation models identified three distinct influences, operating associative learning, memory, g. Health status moderated negative age-canine g relationship, stronger association observed dogs poorer health status, no relationship health. On sample (N = 99), we showed direction magnitude change up 3 years affected by various interactions between dogs' age, communication score, baseline time elapsed since measurement. findings underscore presence reveal intriguing parallels human aging, affirming translational value cognition research.

Language: Английский

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Linking cognition with fitness in a wild primate: fitness correlates of problem-solving performance and spatial learning ability

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 373(1756), P. 20170295 - 20170295

Published: Aug. 13, 2018

Linking the cognitive performance of wild animals with fitness consequences is crucial for understanding evolutionary processes that shape individual variation in cognition. However, few studies have examined these links revealed differing relationships between various measures and proxies. To contribute additional comparative data to this body research, we linked during repeated problem-solving spatial learning ability a maze condition survival grey mouse lemurs ( Microcebus murinus ). All four variables exhibited substantial inter-individual variation. Solving efficiency task, but not performance, predicted magnitude change after harsh dry season, indicating quickly apply newly discovered motor technique might also facilitate exploitation new, natural food resources. Survival was both tasks, however, suggesting lemurs' depend on performances addressed here. Our study first linking cognition proxies primate species, our discussion highlights importance challenges accounting species’ life history ecology choosing meaningful wild. This article part theme issue ‘Causes differences abilities’.

Language: Английский

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Self-Control in Chimpanzees Relates to General Intelligence

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 28(4), P. 574 - 579.e3

Published: Feb. 1, 2018

Language: Английский

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How does cognition shape social relationships?

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 373(1756), P. 20170293 - 20170293

Published: Aug. 13, 2018

The requirements of living in social groups, and forming maintaining relationships are hypothesized to be one the major drivers behind evolution cognitive abilities. Most empirical studies investigating between sociality cognition compare performance species systems that differ complexity. In this review, we ask whether how individuals benefit from skills their interactions. Cognitive abilities, such as perception, attention, learning, memory, inhibitory control, aid relationships. We investigate there is evidence individual variation these abilities influences then consider evolutionary consequences interaction ability address bi-directional exist two, can both shape shaped by interactions environment. doing so, suggest network analysis emerging a powerful tool used test for directional causal cognition. Overall, our review highlights importance understand it shapes patterns This article part theme issue ‘Causes differences abilities’.

Language: Английский

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The impacts of heat stress on animal cognition: Implications for adaptation to a changing climate

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Climate Change, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12(4)

Published: April 27, 2021

Abstract With global surface air temperature rising rapidly, extensive research effort has been dedicated to assessing the consequences of this change for wildlife. While impacts on phenology, distribution, and demography wild animal populations are well documented, impact increasing cognition in these received relatively little attention. Cognition encompasses mental mechanisms that allow individuals process information from surrounding environment, respond accordingly, flexibly adjust behavior. Hence, it is likely be a key factor allowing animals adaptively climate change. Captive studies show heat stress can negatively affect cognitive performance not only short‐term but also long‐term, by altering development at early life stages. Field indicate may survival reproductive success. However, link between stress, cognition, fitness yet formally established. We propose comprehensive framework collection robust empirical datasets wild. then suggest how knowledge could applied population viability models wildlife management actions. believe joint encompassing fields thermal physiology, behavioral ecology, comparative conservation science, essential provide timely mitigation measures against potential This article categorized under: Climate, Ecology, Conservation > Observed Ecological Changes

Language: Английский

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