Risk should be objectively defined: reply to Zentall and Smith

Animal Cognition
Cédric Sueur, Marie Pelé

Abstract

Zentall and Smith (2014) have published a comment on Pelé and Sueur (Anim Cogn 16:543-556, 2013) in which they raise two issues, one about the definition of risk and a second concerning the optimality of decisions. When making a choice, subjects are faced not only with several possible alternatives but also with the risk of opting for an unsuitable choice which depends on several variables (context, internal state, knowledge and perception). Although it is true that animals might learn about their environment and adapt their decisions to the context and to their experience, strong constraints make some behavioural traits stable over individual lifetime and even generations. We therefore consider that experience has limited impact on the variability of temporal discounting. These behavioural traits make the difference between perceived and actual risk. If the perceived risk strongly differs from the actual risk, a decision should be considered as suboptimal. If we want to lead individual and collective cognition to a common decision science, it is crucial to use the same definitions for terms implied in decision-making.

References

Dec 12, 2003·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Nigel R FranksMartin Stevens
Nov 11, 2005·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Alexander C Huk, Michael N Shadlen
Feb 6, 2007·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Rafal Bogacz
Mar 30, 2007·Animal Cognition·Charles H Janson, Richard Byrne
Jul 10, 2008·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Pete C TrimmerJohn M McNamara
Sep 11, 2008·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Kevin R Foster, Hanna Kokko
Mar 28, 2009·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·James A R MarshallNigel R Franks
Jun 17, 2010·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Jessica P Stagner, Thomas R Zentall
Dec 31, 2011·International Journal of Primatology·Lennart W PyritzClaudia Fichtel
Jun 2, 2014·Animal Cognition·Thomas R Zentall, Aaron P Smith
Jun 4, 2014·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Animal Learning and Cognition·Jennifer R LaudeThomas R Zentall
Mar 1, 2007·Human Nature : an Interdisciplinary Biosocial Perspective·Jan Beck, Wolfgang Forstmeier

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 23, 2015·Primates; Journal of Primatology·Cédric Sueur, Marie Pelé
Apr 8, 2017·Royal Society Open Science·Marie PeléCédric Sueur
Dec 11, 2020·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Cédric SueurMarie Pelé
Nov 30, 2019·Accident; Analysis and Prevention·Mathilde JayMarie Pelé

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.