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Guadagno A, Triki Z. Executive functions and brain morphology of male and female dominant and subordinate cichlid fish. Brain Behav 2024; 14:e3484. [PMID: 38680075 PMCID: PMC11056711 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Living in a social dominance hierarchy presents different benefits and challenges for dominant and subordinate males and females, which might in turn affect their cognitive needs. Despite the extensive research on social dominance in group-living species, there is still a knowledge gap regarding how social status impacts brain morphology and cognitive abilities. METHODS Here, we tested male and female dominants and subordinates of Neolamprologus pulcher, a social cichlid fish species with size-based hierarchy. We ran three executive cognitive function tests for cognitive flexibility (reversal learning test), self-control (detour test), and working memory (object permanence test), followed by brain and brain region size measurements. RESULTS Performance was not influenced by social status or sex. However, dominants exhibited a brain-body slope that was relatively steeper than that of subordinates. Furthermore, individual performance in reversal learning and detour tests correlated with brain morphology, with some trade-offs among major brain regions like telencephalon, cerebellum, and optic tectum. CONCLUSION As individuals' brain growth strategies varied depending on social status without affecting executive functions, the different associated challenges might yield a potential effect on social cognition instead. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of studying the individual and not just species to understand better how the individual's ecology might shape its brain and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Guadagno
- Behavioural Ecology Division, Institute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Zegni Triki
- Behavioural Ecology Division, Institute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
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2
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Chen WJ, Chen H, Li ZM, Huang WY, Wu JL. Acetylcholine muscarinic M1 receptors in the rodent prefrontal cortex modulate cognitive abilities to establish social hierarchy. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:974-982. [PMID: 38135842 PMCID: PMC11039707 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01785-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
In most social species, the attainment of social dominance is strongly affected by personality traits. Dominant individuals show better cognitive abilities, however, whether an individual's cognition can determine its social status has remained inconclusive. We found that mice show better cognitive abilities tend to possess a higher social rank after cohousing. The dynamic release of acetylcholine (ACh) in the prelimbic cortex (PL) is correlated with mouse dominance behavior. ACh enhanced the excitability of the PL neurons via acetylcholine muscarinic M1 receptors (M1). Inhibition of M1 impaired mice cognitive performance and induced losing in social competition. Mice with M1 deficiency in the PL performed worse on cognitive behavioral tests, and exhibited lower status when re-grouped with others. Elevating ACh level in the PL of subordinate mice induced winning. These results provide direct evidence for the involvement of M1 in social hierarchy and suggest that social rank can be tuned by altering cognition through cholinergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jun Chen
- Medical Research and Experimental Center, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou, 514031, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technological Research Center of Clinical Molecular Diagnosis and Antibody Drugs, Meizhou, 514031, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zi-Ming Li
- Department of Neurobiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Wei-Yuan Huang
- Orthopedic Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, China.
| | - Jian-Lin Wu
- Medical Research and Experimental Center, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou, 514031, China.
- Guangdong Engineering Technological Research Center of Clinical Molecular Diagnosis and Antibody Drugs, Meizhou, 514031, China.
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3
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Barou‐Dagues M, Dubois F. Exploring the interplay between natural and intersexual selection on the evolution of a cognitive trait. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9066. [PMID: 35813909 PMCID: PMC9251863 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
There has been an increased focus on the role of natural and sexual selection in shaping cognitive abilities, but the importance of the interaction between both forces remains largely unknown. Intersexual selection through female mate choice might be an important driver of the evolution of cognitive traits, especially in monogamous species, where females may obtain direct fitness benefits by choosing mates with better cognitive abilities. However, the importance given by female to male cognitive traits might vary among species and/or populations according to their life-history traits and ecology. To disentangle the effects of natural and sexual selection, here we use an agent-based simulation model and compare the model's predictions when females mate with the first randomly encountered male (i.e., under natural selection) versus when they choose among males based on their cognitive trait values (i.e., under natural and intersexual selection). Males and females are characterized, respectively, by their problem-solving ability and assessment strategy. At each generation, agents go through (1) a choosing phase during which females assess the cognitive abilities of potential mates until eventually finding an acceptable one and (2) a reproductive phase during which all males compete for limited resources that are exploited at a rate, which depends on their cognitive abilities. Because males provide paternal care, the foraging success of mated males determines the breeding success of the pair through its effect on nestling provisioning efficiency. The model predicts that intersexual selection plays a major role in most ecological conditions, by either reinforcing or acting against the effect of natural selection. The latter case occurs under harsh environmental conditions, where intersexual selection contributes to maintaining cognitive diversity. Our findings thus demonstrate the importance of considering the interaction between both selective forces and highlight the need to build a conceptual framework to target relevant cognitive traits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frédérique Dubois
- Département des Sciences BiologiquesUniversité de MontréalMontréalQuebecCanada
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4
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Heldstab SA, Isler K, Graber SM, Schuppli C, van Schaik CP. The economics of brain size evolution in vertebrates. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R697-R708. [PMID: 35728555 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Across the animal kingdom, we see remarkable variation in brain size. This variation has even increased over evolutionary time. Traditionally, studies aiming to explain brain size evolution have looked at the fitness benefits of increased brain size in relation to its increased cognitive performance in the social and/or ecological domain. However, brains are among the most energetically expensive tissues in the body and also require an uninterrupted energy supply. If not compensated, these energetic demands inevitably lead to a reduction in energy allocation to other vital functions. In this review, we summarize how an increasing number of studies show that to fully comprehend brain size evolution and the large variation in brain size across lineages, it is important to look at the economics of brains, including the different pathways through which the high energetic costs of brains can be offset. We further show how numerous studies converge on the conclusion that cognitive abilities can only drive brain size evolution in vertebrate lineages where they result in an improved energy balance through favourable ecological preconditions. Cognitive benefits that do not directly improve the organism's energy balance can only be selectively favoured when they produce such large improvements in reproduction or survival that they outweigh the negative energetic effects of the large brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra A Heldstab
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Development and Evolution of Cognition Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Bücklestrasse 5a, 78467 Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Karin Isler
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sereina M Graber
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Schuppli
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Development and Evolution of Cognition Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Bücklestrasse 5a, 78467 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Carel P van Schaik
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Comparative Socioecology Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Bücklestrasse 5a, 78467 Konstanz, Germany; Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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5
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Space, the original frontier. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2022.101106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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6
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Chou YJ, Ma YK, Lu YH, King JT, Tasi WS, Yang SB, Kuo TH. Potential cross-species correlations in social hierarchy and memory between mice and young children. Commun Biol 2022; 5:230. [PMID: 35288641 PMCID: PMC8921227 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03173-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Social hierarchy is associated with various phenotypes. Although memory is known to be important for hierarchy formation, the difference in memory abilities between dominant and subordinate individuals remains unclear. In this study, we examined memory performance in mice with different social ranks and found better memory abilities in dominant mice, along with greater long-term potentiation and higher memory-related gene expression in the hippocampus. Daily injection of memory-improving drugs could also enhance dominance. To validate this correlation across species, through inventory, behavioral and event-related potential studies, we identified better memory abilities in preschool children with higher social dominance. Better memory potentially helped children process dominance facial cues and learn social strategies to acquire higher positions. Our study shows a remarkable similarity between humans and mice in the association between memory and social hierarchy and provides valuable insight into social interactions in young animals, with potential implications for preschool education. Memory performance and hippocampal memory-related gene expression are shown to both be increased in more dominant mice, with memory-improving drugs enhancing dominant behaviour. The data also suggests that children with better memory can recognise dominance more easily, demonstrating a potential cross-species correlation in the association between memory and social hierarchy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ju Chou
- Department of Early Childhood Education, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan, Republic of China.
| | - Yu-Kai Ma
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yi-Han Lu
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jung-Tai King
- Institute of Neurosciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Wen-Sheng Tasi
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shi-Bing Yang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan, Republic of China.
| | - Tsung-Han Kuo
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan, Republic of China. .,Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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7
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Strauss ED, DeCasien AR, Galindo G, Hobson EA, Shizuka D, Curley JP. DomArchive: a century of published dominance data. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200436. [PMID: 35000444 PMCID: PMC8743893 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dominance behaviours have been collected for many groups of animals since 1922 and serve as a foundation for research on social behaviour and social structure. Despite a wealth of data from the last century of research on dominance hierarchies, these data are only rarely used for comparative insight. Here, we aim to facilitate comparative studies of the structure and function of dominance hierarchies by compiling published dominance interaction datasets from the last 100 years of work. This compiled archive includes 436 datasets from 190 studies of 367 unique groups (mean group size 13.8, s.d. = 13.4) of 135 different species, totalling over 243 000 interactions. These data are presented in an R package alongside relevant metadata and a tool for subsetting the archive based on biological or methodological criteria. In this paper, we explain how to use the archive, discuss potential limitations of the data, and reflect on best practices in publishing dominance data based on our experience in assembling this dataset. This archive will serve as an important resource for future comparative studies and will promote the development of general unifying theories of dominance in behavioural ecology that can be grounded in testing with empirical data. This article is part of the theme issue 'The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli D. Strauss
- Department of Collective Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118 USA
| | - Alex R. DeCasien
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MA, USA
| | - Gabriela Galindo
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Hobson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Daizaburo Shizuka
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118 USA
| | - James P. Curley
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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8
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Dehnen T, Papageorgiou D, Nyaguthii B, Cherono W, Penndorf J, Boogert NJ, Farine DR. Costs dictate strategic investment in dominance interactions. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200447. [PMID: 35000443 PMCID: PMC8743880 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Dominance is important for access to resources. As dominance interactions are costly, individuals should be strategic in whom they interact with. One hypothesis is that individuals should direct costly interactions towards those closest in rank, as they have most to gain-in terms of attaining or maintaining dominance-from winning such interactions. Here, we show that male vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum), a gregarious species with steep dominance hierarchies, strategically express higher-cost aggressive interactions towards males occupying ranks immediately below themselves in their group's hierarchy. By contrast, lower-cost aggressive interactions are expressed towards group members further down the hierarchy. By directly evaluating differences in the strategic use of higher- and lower-cost aggressive interactions towards competitors, we show that individuals disproportionately use highest-cost interactions-such as chases-towards males found one to three ranks below themselves. Our results support the hypothesis that the costs associated with different interaction types can determine their expression in social groups with steep dominance hierarchies. This article is part of the theme issue 'The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobit Dehnen
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Collective Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Danai Papageorgiou
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Collective Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Kenya Wildlife Service, PO Box 40241-001000, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Brendah Nyaguthii
- Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, PO Box 40658-001000, Nairobi, Kenya
- Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555-10400, Nanyuki 10400, Kenya
- School of Natural Resource Management, Department of Wildlife, University of Eldoret, 1125-30100 Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Wismer Cherono
- Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555-10400, Nanyuki 10400, Kenya
| | - Julia Penndorf
- Cognitive and Cultural Ecology Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Neeltje J. Boogert
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Damien R. Farine
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Collective Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, PO Box 40658-001000, Nairobi, Kenya
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9
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Hao Y, Meng L, Zhang Y, Chen A, Zhao Y, Lian K, Guo X, Wang X, Du Y, Wang X, Li X, Song L, Shi Y, Yin X, Gong M, Shi H. Effects of chronic triclosan exposure on social behaviors in adult mice. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127562. [PMID: 34736200 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Triclosan (TCS), a newly identified environmental endocrine disruptor (EED) in household products, has been reported to have toxic effects on animals and humans. The effects of TCS exposure on individual social behaviors and the potential underlying mechanisms are still unknown. This study investigated the behavioral effects of 42-day exposure to TCS (0, 50, 100 mg/kg) in drinking water using the open field test (OFT), social dominance test (SDT), social interaction test (SIT), and novel object recognition task (NOR). Using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we observed the effects of TCS exposure on the gut microbiota and ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons and synapses. Behavioral results showed that chronic TCS exposure reduced the social dominance of male and female mice. TCS exposure also reduced social interaction in male mice and impaired memory formation in female mice. Analysis of the gut microbiota showed that TCS exposure increased the relative abundance of the Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla in female mice. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that TCS exposure induced ultrastructural damage to hippocampal neurons and synapses. These findings suggest that TCS exposure may affect social behaviors, which may be caused by altered gut microbiota and impaired plasticity of hippocampal neurons and synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hao
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medicinal University, 050017, China
| | - Li Meng
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Aixin Chen
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medicinal University, 050017, China
| | - Ye Zhao
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medicinal University, 050017, China
| | - Kaoqi Lian
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Xiangfei Guo
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medicinal University, 050017, China
| | - Xinhao Wang
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medicinal University, 050017, China
| | - Yuru Du
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medicinal University, 050017, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medicinal University, 050017, China
| | - Xuzi Li
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medicinal University, 050017, China
| | - Li Song
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medicinal University, 050017, China
| | - Yun Shi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Xi Yin
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Department of Functional Region of Diagnosis, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, China
| | - Miao Gong
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Experimental Center for Teaching, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China.
| | - Haishui Shi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science of HeBMU, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medicinal University, 050017, China; Research Unit of Digestive Tract Microecosystem Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050017, China.
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Spatial working memory is disparately interrelated with social status through different developmental stages in rats. Behav Brain Res 2022; 416:113547. [PMID: 34437940 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Social life necessitates cognitive competence to meet the dynamic demands of social development. The formation of dominance hierarchy is a general phenomenon in social groups. As an essential element of executive and cognitive function, working memory could influence and be influenced by social status in a dominance hierarchy. However, the direction and degree of the association between them through different developmental stages remain unclear. To address this issue and clarify the "cause or consequence" problem, we investigated the spatial working memory performance in a Y-maze and Morris water maze in home-caged sibling Wistar rats (N = 26 cages, three rats/cage) through three stages of their life: before (week 7), during (week 10), and after (week 20) assumed timings of the social dominance hierarchy formation (SDHF). We used the social dominance tube test during the assumed time of hierarchy formation (weeks 9-11) to measure the relative dominance status in each cage. Here, we found that higher working memory index before SDHF could be predictive of later acquisition of higher social status. Working memory performance declined for all animals during SDHF, in which agonistic conflicts are increased. However, living within an established hierarchical social network for several weeks deteriorated the working memory performance of dominant and middle-ranked animals, while the performance of subordinates improved and got significantly better than higher-ranked animals. In conclusion, while working memory and social status were correlated positively before dominance hierarchy formation, there was a trade-off between them after the formation of it. In contrast to the common view, these results highlight the adverse effect of higher social status on cognitive behavior.
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Multidimensional nature of dominant behavior: Insights from behavioral neuroscience. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:603-620. [PMID: 34902440 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Social interactions for many species of animals are critical for survival, wellbeing, and reproduction. Optimal navigation of a social system increases chances for survival and reproduction, therefore there is strong incentive to fit into social structures. Social animals rely heavily on dominant-submissive behaviors in establishment of stable social hierarchies. There is a link between extreme manifestation of dominance/submissiveness and behavioral deviations. To understand neural substrates affiliated with a specific hierarchical rank, there is a real need for reliable animal behavioral models. Different paradigms have been consolidated over time to study the neurobiology of social rank behavior in a standardized manner using rodent models to unravel the neural pathways and substrates involved in normal and abnormal intraspecific social interactions. This review summarizes and discusses the commonly used behavioral tests and new directions for the assessment of dominance in rodents. We discuss the hierarchy inheritable nature and other critical issues regarding hierarchical rank manifestation which may help in designing social-rank-related studies that serve as promising pre-clinical tools in behavioral psychiatry.
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12
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Beltrão P, Marques CI, Cardoso GC, Gomes ACR. Plumage colour saturation predicts long-term, cross-seasonal social dominance in a mutually ornamented bird. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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13
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Heinen VK, Benedict LM, Pitera AM, Sonnenberg BR, Bridge ES, Pravosudov VV. Social dominance has limited effects on spatial cognition in a wild food-caching bird. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211784. [PMID: 34784764 PMCID: PMC8596002 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Social dominance has long been used as a model to investigate social stress. However, many studies using such comparisons have been performed in captive environments. These environments may produce unnaturally high antagonistic interactions, exaggerating the stress of social subordination and any associated adverse consequences. One such adverse effect concerns impaired cognitive ability, often thought to be associated with social subordination. Here, we tested whether social dominance rank is associated with differences in spatial learning and memory, and in reversal spatial learning (flexibility) abilities in wild food-caching mountain chickadees at different montane elevations. Higher dominance rank was associated with higher spatial cognitive flexibility in harsh environments at higher elevations, but not at lower, milder elevations. By contrast, there were no consistent differences in spatial learning and memory ability associated with dominance rank. Our results suggest that spatial learning and memory ability in specialized food-caching species is a stable trait resilient to social influences. Spatial cognitive flexibility, on the other hand, appears to be more sensitive to environmental influences, including social dominance. These findings contradict those from laboratory studies and suggest that it is critical to investigate the biological consequences of social dominance under natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Angela M. Pitera
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | | | - Eli S. Bridge
- Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
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Pandey A, Bloch G. Krüppel-homologue 1 Mediates Hormonally Regulated Dominance Rank in a Social Bee. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10111188. [PMID: 34827180 PMCID: PMC8614866 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Dominance hierarchies are ubiquitous in invertebrates and vertebrates, but little is known on how genes influence dominance rank. Our gaps in knowledge are specifically significant concerning female hierarchies, particularly in insects. To start filling these gaps, we studied the social bumble bee Bombus terrestris, in which social hierarchies among females are common and functionally significant. Dominance rank in this bee is influenced by multiple factors, including juvenile hormone (JH) that is a major gonadotropin in this species. We tested the hypothesis that the JH responsive transcription factor Krüppel homologue 1 (Kr-h1) mediates hormonal influences on dominance behavior. We first developed and validated a perfluorocarbon nanoparticles-based RNA interference protocol for knocking down Kr-h1 expression. We then used this procedure to show that Kr-h1 mediates the influence of JH, not only on oogenesis and wax production, but also on aggression and dominance rank. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study causally linking a gene to dominance rank in social insects, and one of only a few such studies on insects or on female hierarchies. These findings are important for determining whether there are general molecular principles governing dominance rank across gender and taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atul Pandey
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Correspondence: (A.P.); (G.B.)
| | - Guy Bloch
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- Correspondence: (A.P.); (G.B.)
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15
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Social context shapes cognitive abilities: associative memories are modulated by fight outcome and social isolation in the crab Neohelice granulata. Anim Cogn 2021; 24:1007-1026. [PMID: 33788037 PMCID: PMC8009927 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01492-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive abilities of an animal can be influenced by distinct social experiences. However, the extent of this modulation has not been addressed in different learning scenarios: are all tasks similarly affected by social experiences? In the present study, we analyzed the effect of social dominance in aversive and appetitive memory processes in the crab Neohelice granulata. In addition, we studied the influence of social isolation on memory ability. Social dominance experiments consisted of an agonistic phase immediately followed by a memory phase. During the agonistic phase, matched pairs of male crabs were staged in 10-min encounters and the dominant or subordinate condition of each member of the dyad was determined. During the memory phase, crabs were trained to acquire aversive or appetitive memory and tested 24 h later. Results showed that the agonistic encounter can modulate long-term memory according to the dominance condition in such a way that memory retention of subordinates results higher than their respective dominant. Remarkably, this result was found for both aversive and appetitive memory tasks. In addition, we found that isolated animals showed no memory retention when compared with animals that remained grouped. Altogether this work emphasizes the importance of social context as a modulator of cognitive abilities.
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16
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Camacho-Alpízar A, Griffin AS, Guillette LM. Are cognitive abilities under selection by female choice? A comment on Chen et al. (2019). Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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17
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Langley EJG, Adams G, Beardsworth CE, Dawson DA, Laker PR, van Horik JO, Whiteside MA, Wilson AJ, Madden JR. Heritability and correlations among learning and inhibitory control traits. Behav Ecol 2020; 31:798-806. [PMID: 32821079 PMCID: PMC7428062 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the evolution of cognitive abilities, we need to understand both how selection acts upon them and their genetic (co)variance structure. Recent work suggests that there are fitness consequences for free-living individuals with particular cognitive abilities. However, our current understanding of the heritability of these abilities is restricted to domesticated species subjected to artificial selection. We investigated genetic variance for, and genetic correlations among four cognitive abilities: inhibitory control, visual and spatial discrimination, and spatial ability, measured on >450 pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, over four generations. Pheasants were reared in captivity but bred from adults that lived in the wild and hence, were subject to selection on survival. Pheasant chicks are precocial and were reared without parents, enabling us to standardize environmental and parental care effects. We constructed a pedigree based on 15 microsatellite loci and implemented animal models to estimate heritability. We found moderate heritabilities for discrimination learning and inhibitory control (h2 = 0.17-0.23) but heritability for spatial ability was low (h2 = 0.09). Genetic correlations among-traits were largely positive but characterized by high uncertainty and were not statistically significant. Principle component analysis of the genetic correlation matrix estimate revealed a leading component that explained 69% of the variation, broadly in line with expectations under a general intelligence model of cognition. However, this pattern was not apparent in the phenotypic correlation structure which was more consistent with a modular view of animal cognition. Our findings highlight that the expression of cognitive traits is influenced by environmental factors which masks the underlying genetic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellis J G Langley
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Washington Singer Labs, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Gracie Adams
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Alfred Denny Building, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Christine E Beardsworth
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Washington Singer Labs, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Deborah A Dawson
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Alfred Denny Building, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Philippa R Laker
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Washington Singer Labs, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jayden O van Horik
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Washington Singer Labs, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Mark A Whiteside
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Washington Singer Labs, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Alastair J Wilson
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, UK
| | - Joah R Madden
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Washington Singer Labs, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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18
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Langley EJG, Horik JO, Whiteside MA, Beardsworth CE, Weiss MN, Madden JR. Early‐life learning ability predicts adult social structure, with potential implications for fitness outcomes in the wild. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:1340-1349. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ellis J. G. Langley
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | - Jayden O. Horik
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | - Mark A. Whiteside
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | | | - Michael N. Weiss
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | - Joah R. Madden
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology University of Exeter Exeter UK
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19
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Leaver LA, Ford S, Miller CW, Yeo MK, Fawcett TW. Learning is negatively associated with strength of left/right paw preference in wild grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). Learn Behav 2020; 48:96-103. [PMID: 31965461 PMCID: PMC7082376 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-019-00408-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral laterality, via hemispheric specialisation, has been evidenced across the animal kingdom and linked to cognitive performance in a number of species. Previously it has been suggested that cognitive processing is more efficient in brains with stronger hemispheric differences in processing, which may be the key fitness benefit driving the evolution of laterality. However, evidence supporting a positive association between cognitive performance and lateralization is mixed: data from studies of fish and birds show a positive relationship whereas more limited data from studies of mammals suggest a weak or even negative relationship, suggesting the intriguing possibility of a mammal/non-mammal divide in the nature of this relationship. Here, we report an empirical test examining the relationship between lateralization and cognitive performance in wild grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) by measuring left/right paw preference as a behavioural assay of cerebral lateralization and learning speed as an assay of cognitive efficiency. We carried out a motor-based laterality test using a reaching paradigm and measured learning speed on a problem-solving task. In accordance with the suggestion of a mammal/non-mammal divide, we found a negative relationship between strength of paw preference and performance on the learning task. We discuss this finding in light of niche-specific adaptations, task-specific demands and cognitive flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Leaver
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK.
| | - Steph Ford
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Christopher W Miller
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Matilda K Yeo
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Tim W Fawcett
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
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20
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Assertive, trainable and older dogs are perceived as more dominant in multi-dog households. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227253. [PMID: 31899765 PMCID: PMC6941818 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Social dominance is an important and widely used concept, however, different interpretations have led to ambiguity in the scientific literature and in popular science. Even though in ethology dominance is an attribute of dyadic encounters, and not a characteristic of the individual, 'dominance' has often been referred to as a personality trait in animals. Since few studies have specifically examined the link between personality traits and dominance status, we investigated this in dogs living in multi-dog households using a questionnaire, which required owners to specify whether the dog had a dominant or submissive status, and comprised items of both the features of the individual (i.e. personality traits) and previous social experience (interactions with group members and strangers). Four distinct personality factors emerged from 23 behavioural items by principal component analysis, labelled as assertiveness, trainability, intraspecific aggression and independence. Binomial logistic regression was used to examine how the demographic information of the dogs and the personality factors predicted the owner's estimate of the dog' status as dominant or submissive. The personality factor assertiveness accounted for 34% of the variance in dominance status, trainability 5% and dog age contributed 4%. Dogs perceived as dominant scored more highly on the factors assertiveness and trainability, which can help explain why 'dominance' has often been suggested to be a personality trait, rather than a dyad-specific social status according to different traditions in behavioural research. Similar to the 'social dominance' trait in humans, owner ascribed dominance showed a quadratic trajectory in cross-sectional mean change across the lifespan, increasing during adulthood and then maintaining high levels until old age. Overall, our study proposes a multifactorial background of dominance relationships in pet dogs, suggesting that not only previous experience of social interactions between individuals but also age and personality traits influence owner perceived dominance status in multi-dog households.
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21
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The role of personality, cognition, and affective state in same-sex contests in the red junglefowl. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2762-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Intra-species contests are common in the animal kingdom and can have fitness consequences. Most research on what predicts contest outcome focuses on morphology, although differences in personality and cognition may also be involved. Supporting this, more proactive individuals often have dominant status, although the causality of this relationship is rarely investigated. Contest initiators often win; thus, individuals that are more proactive in their personality (e.g., more aggressive, risk-taking) or cognition (e.g., more optimistic, impulsive) may initiate contests more often. To investigate this, we assayed the behavior and cognition of sexually mature male and female red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), a species in which both sexes contest over social status, before staging intra-sexual contests. We confirm that contest initiators were more likely to win. In males, individuals that behaved more boldly in a novel arena test were more likely to initiate and win contests. Female initiators tended to be less active in novel object test, more aggressive in a restrained opponent test, and respond less optimistically in a cognitive judgement bias test, whereas the main predictor of whether a female would win a contest was whether she initiated it. These results suggest that behaviors attributed to proactive and reactive personalities, and—at least for female red junglefowl—optimism, can affect contest initiation and outcome. Therefore, within species, and depending on sex, different aspects of behavior and cognition may independently affect contest initiation and outcome. The generality of these findings, and their fitness consequences, requires further investigation.
Significance statement
In red junglefowl, we explored how behavior previously shown to describe personality, cognition, and affective state affected initiation and outcome of intra-sexual contests, by staging contests between sexually mature individuals previously assayed in behavioral and cognitive tests. In both sexes, contest initiators usually won. Bolder males were more likely to initiate and win contests. Female contests initiators were less active, more aggressive, and less optimistic. Our results suggest that personality and cognition could affect the initiation and outcome of contests and that how this occurs may differ between sexes.
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Wascher CAF, Kulahci IG, Langley EJG, Shaw RC. How does cognition shape social relationships? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 373:rstb.2017.0293. [PMID: 30104437 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The requirements of living in social groups, and forming and maintaining social relationships are hypothesized to be one of the major drivers behind the evolution of cognitive abilities. Most empirical studies investigating the relationships between sociality and cognition compare cognitive performance between species living in systems that differ in social complexity. In this review, we ask whether and how individuals benefit from cognitive skills in their social interactions. Cognitive abilities, such as perception, attention, learning, memory, and inhibitory control, aid in forming and maintaining social relationships. We investigate whether there is evidence that individual variation in these abilities influences individual variation in social relationships. We then consider the evolutionary consequences of the interaction between sociality and cognitive ability to address whether bi-directional relationships exist between the two, such that cognition can both shape and be shaped by social interactions and the social environment. In doing so, we suggest that social network analysis is emerging as a powerful tool that can be used to test for directional causal relationships between sociality and cognition. Overall, our review highlights the importance of investigating individual variation in cognition to understand how it shapes the patterns of social relationships.This article is part of the theme issue 'Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia A F Wascher
- Department of Biology, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, UK
| | - Ipek G Kulahci
- Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Distillery Fields, North Mall Campus, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Rachael C Shaw
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
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23
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Gazes RP, Lutz MC, Meyer MJ, Hassett TC, Hampton RR. Influences of demographic, seasonal, and social factors on automated touchscreen computer use by rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) in a large naturalistic group. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215060. [PMID: 31017920 PMCID: PMC6481812 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals housed in naturalistic social groups with access to automated cognitive testing vary in whether and how much they participate in cognitive testing. Understanding how demographic, seasonal, and social factors relate to participation is essential to evaluating the usefulness of these systems for studying cognition and in assessing the data produced. We evaluated how sex, age, reproductive experience, seasonality, and rank related to patterns of participation in a naturalistic group of rhesus monkeys over a 4-year period. Females interacted with the touchscreen systems more than males and were more likely to complete initial training. Age was positively correlated with touchscreen activity through adolescence in females, at which point seasonality and reproductive experience were stronger associates of participation. While monkeys in different rank categories did not differ in how much they interacted with the touchscreen systems, monkeys of different ranks tended not to work at the same times, perhaps reflecting avoidance of high ranking animals by those of lower rank. Automated cognitive testing systems for naturalistic social groups of rhesus monkeys can yield quality cognitive data from individuals of all ages and ranks, but participation biases may make it difficult to study sex differences or seasonal variation in cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Paxton Gazes
- Department of Psychology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Program in Animal Behavior, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Meredith C. Lutz
- Program in Animal Behavior, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Mathematics, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mark J. Meyer
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Thomas C. Hassett
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Robert R. Hampton
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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Langley EJG, van Horik JO, Whiteside MA, Beardsworth CE, Madden JR. The relationship between social rank and spatial learning in pheasants, Phasianus colchicus: cause or consequence? PeerJ 2018; 6:e5738. [PMID: 30479883 PMCID: PMC6238775 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual differences in performances on cognitive tasks have been found to differ according to social rank across multiple species. However, it is not clear whether an individual’s cognitive performance is flexible and the result of their current social rank, modulated by social interactions (social state dependent hypothesis), or if it is determined prior to the formation of the social hierarchy and indeed influences an individual’s rank (prior attributes hypothesis). We separated these two hypotheses by measuring learning performance of male pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, on a spatial discrimination task as chicks and again as adults. We inferred adult male social rank from observing agonistic interactions while housed in captive multi-male multi-female groups. Learning performance of adult males was assayed after social rank had been standardised; by housing single males with two or four females. We predicted that if cognitive abilities determine social rank formation we would observe: consistency between chick and adult performances on the cognitive task and chick performance would predict adult social rank. We found that learning performances were consistent from chicks to adults for task accuracy, but not for speed of learning and chick learning performances were not related to adult social rank. Therefore, we could not support the prior attributes hypothesis of cognitive abilities aiding social rank formation. Instead, we found that individual differences in learning performances of adults were predicted by the number of females a male was housed with; males housed with four females had higher levels of learning performance than males housed with two females; and their most recent recording of captive social rank, even though learning performance was assayed while males were in a standardized, non-competitive environment. This does not support the hypothesis that direct social pressures are causing the inter-individual variation in learning performances that we observe. Instead, our results suggest that there may be carry-over effects of aggressive social interactions on learning performance. Consequently, whether early life spatial learning performances influence social rank is unclear but these performances are modulated by the current social environment and a male’s most recent social rank.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellis J G Langley
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Jayden O van Horik
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A Whiteside
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | | | - Joah R Madden
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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