Highlights
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- We explored pigeons’ flexible task-switching, a hallmark of executive function.
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- Pigeons performed two categorization tasks, switching between tasks on demand.
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- They also showed cross-task interplay, implicating a common computational mechanism.
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- Pigeons thus showed key signs of executive function—even without a prefrontal cortex.
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- Other avian brain areas (nidopallium caudolaterale) may support executive function.
Abstract
Flexibly
adjusting one’s behavior depending on the task at hand is a hallmark of
executive function. In two experiments, we explored pigeons’ cognitive
flexibility to concurrently perform two complex categorization tasks: a
numerosity discrimination (where number was the relevant dimension and
variability was the irrelevant dimension) and a variability
discrimination (where variability was the relevant dimension and number
was the irrelevant dimension). The flexibility of pigeons’ behavior was
evidenced by their rapid, on-demand switching between tasks within
training sessions. In addition, in Experiment 1, pigeons more accurately
performed the numerosity task with arrays of different stimuli than
with arrays of same stimuli and they more accurately performed the
variability task with arrays of 16 stimuli than with arrays of 6
stimuli. In Experiment 2, when the magnitudes of the relevant and
irrelevant dimensions were congruent, pigeons’ accuracy was higher than
when the magnitudes were incongruent. Thus, the irrelevant dimension
facilitated target discrimination performance when its magnitude matched
the magnitude of the correct choice. These cross-task interactions
suggest that a common computational mechanism underlies both
discriminations. Pigeons’ cognitive complexity and flexibility—even in
the absence of a prefrontal cortex—indicates that other avian brain
areas can support behaviors emblematic of executive functioning.
Keywords
- Executive function;
- Cognitive flexibility;
- Numerosity;
- Variability;
- Pigeons
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
