Interaction between animal personality and animal cognition

Abstract

The study of animal personality has attracted considerable attention, as it has revealed a number of similarities in personality between humans and several nonhuman species. At the same time the adaptive value and evolutionary maintenance of different personalities are the subject of debate. Since Pavlov’s work on dogs, students of comparative cognition have been aware that animals display vast individual differences on cognitive tasks, and that these differences may not be entirely accounted for differences in cognitive abilities. Here, we argue that personality is an important source of variation that may affect cognitive performance and we hypothesise mutual influences between personality and cognition across an individual’s lifespan. In particular, we suggest that: 1) personality profiles may be markers of different cognitive styles; 2) success or failure in cognitive tasks could affect different personalities differently; 3) ontogenetic changes of personality profiles could be reflected in changes in cognitive performance. The study of such interplay has implications in animal welfare as well as in neuroscience and in translational medicine.

The Psychology of Cows

“…Instead of viewing other animals as one-dimensional, interchangeable units within a group, population, or species, recognition of personality in other animals emphasizes their individuality. Furthermore, personality interacts with cognition and emotion, intimately shaping behavior and performance on a wide range of tasks (Carere & Locurto, 2011).…”

Observation of Daytime Sleep-like Behavior in a Migratory Songbird during Stopover

“…That is, they exhibit personality traits (Réale et al 2007, Carere andMaestripieri 2013). Therefore, the way in which individuals collect and use information may vary according to the personality or behavior type of the individual (Carere and Locurto 2011). Certain personality types are more likely to rely on social information than others Drent 2000, Nomakuchi et al 2009).…”

Linking behavioural syndromes and cognition: a behavioural ecology perspective

“…The present paper focuses on the intriguing possibility that individual differences in animal cognition are related to BT and vice versa (also see [17]; figure 1). While differences in BT might be related to cognitive ability, we focus, in particular, on relationships between personality and 'cognitive style'.…”