Inhibition in Clark's nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana): results of a detour-reaching test

Animal Cognition
A VernouilletD M Kelly

Abstract

Inhibition (i.e. the ability to restrain ineffective responses to a given stimulus) is a good indicator of complex cognitive abilities in animals. Inhibition has been demonstrated in a broad range of mammals with foraging style and social group size identified as potential influences of this ability. Whether these ecological factors also apply to birds has not been well studied. Corvids, a family of birds well known for being able to accomplish difficult cognitive tasks often requiring inhibition, are a good model for studying inhibitory control. During this study, we measured the ability of Clark's nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana), a relatively non-social, food specialist corvid to exercise inhibitory control during a detour-reaching test. Individuals had to retrieve a pine nut inserted into a transparent tube through one of the side openings without pecking directly at the nut from the front of the tube. Overall, nutcrackers were able to inhibit pecking directly at the food (i.e. prepotent response), instead detouring to the side to retrieve the reward. However, the nutcrackers first required a learning period before showing inhibitory control. The nutcrackers' ability to inhibit was lower than other corvids studied to date...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Dec 15, 2017·Frontiers in Psychology·Can KabadayiMathias Osvath
Jun 10, 2017·Frontiers in Psychology·Désirée BrucksFriederike Range
Sep 21, 2017·Animal Cognition·Can KabadayiAuguste M P von Bayern
Sep 27, 2018·Learning & Behavior·Alizée A A VernouilletDebbie M Kelly
Aug 24, 2018·Scientific Reports·Anastasia KrasheninnikovaAuguste M P von Bayern
Oct 17, 2017·Scientific Reports·Tyrone Lucon-XiccatoAngelo Bisazza
Dec 14, 2017·Animal Cognition·Can KabadayiMathias Osvath
Jul 17, 2018·Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·Emil IsakssonAnders Brodin

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