Spatial and reversal learning in congeneric lizards with different foraging strategies

Day, Lainy B.; Crews, David; Wilczynski, Walter

doi:10.1006/anbe.1998.1007

Cited by 138 publications

(154 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…It is important to note that our data do not provide insight into the mechanism(s) that may be responsible for spatial learning. Nonetheless, our findings contrast with previously available studies reporting that lizards require dozens of trials before learning a relatively simple spatial task if they learn at all [4,8]. This may be due to the larger spatial scale of our experiment, or to the fact that lizards had access to the whole range of spatial cues that they would have access to in their natural habitat (e.g.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 91%

“…location of predators in their surroundings or obstacles to refuges). Although the available evidence shows that snakes and lizards are capable of learning the spatial location of food items or shelters in the laboratory [4,[7][8][9][10][11], some studies seem to suggest that they have limited spatial cognitive abilities and require many training trials to learn simple spatial tasks [4]. Here, we used an ecologically relevant anti-predator context to study whether lizards show evidence of flexible spatial learning using two replicate groups of lizards maintained in large semi-natural outdoor enclosures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Learning outdoors: male lizards show flexible spatial learning under semi-natural conditions

2012

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Spatial cognition is predicted to be a fundamental component of fitness in many lizard species, and yet some studies suggest that it is relatively slow and inflexible. However, such claims are based on work conducted using experimental designs or in artificial contexts that may underestimate their cognitive abilities. We used a biologically realistic experimental procedure (using simulated predatory attacks) to study spatial learning and its flexibility in the lizard Eulamprus quoyii in semi-natural outdoor enclosures under similar conditions to those experienced by lizards in the wild. To evaluate the flexibility of spatial learning, we conducted a reversal spatial-learning task in which positive and negative reinforcements of learnt spatial stimuli were switched. Nineteen (32%) male lizards learnt both tasks within 10 days (spatial task mean: 8.16 + + + + + 0.69 (s.e.) and reversal spatial task mean: 10.74 + + + + + 0.98 (s.e.) trials). We demonstrate that E. quoyii are capable of flexible spatial learning and suggest that future studies focus on a range of lizard species which differ in phylogeny and/or ecology, using biologically relevant cognitive tasks, in an effort to bridge the cognitive divide between ectoand endotherms.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning outdoors: male lizards show flexible spatial learning under semi-natural conditions

2012

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“…We argue that by standardizing methodology across these studies, as has been done in other taxa, we can have more confidence that our results are not due to methodological issues, and we are actually tapping into spatial memory ability. Our findings refute previous assertions that squamate reptiles do not have spatial memory [1][2][3]. However, the paucity of studies on spatial memory via visual cues precludes meaningful comparisons among these studies.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…Specifically, these studies used only one distal intramaze cue, and snakes were oriented towards that cue during the trials; thus, snakes could have been using egocentric encoding of the cue rather than true spatial memory. Two additional studies found no evidence of spatial memory in three lizard species [3,8]. Because the null hypothesis is typically that squamate reptiles lack spatial memory, the latter studies argue against the existence of spatial memory in this taxonomic group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial memory: are lizards really deficient?

et al. 2012

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In many animals, behaviours such as territoriality, mate guarding, navigation and food acquisition rely heavily on spatial memory abilities; this has been demonstrated in diverse taxa, from invertebrates to mammals. However, spatial memory ability in squamate reptiles has been seen as possible, at best, or non-existent, at worst. Of the few previous studies testing for spatial memory in squamates, some have found no evidence of spatial memory while two studies have found evidence of spatial memory in snakes, but have been criticized based on methodological issues. We used the Barnes maze, a common paradigm to test spatial memory abilities in mammals, to test for spatial memory abilities in the side-blotched lizard ( Uta stansburiana ). We found the existence of spatial memory in this species using this spatial task. Thus, our study supports the existence of spatial memory in this squamate reptile species and seeks to parsimoniously align this species with the diverse taxa that demonstrate spatial memory ability.

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“…One common theme in the recent literature is that complex environments should select for greater behavioral flexibility, that species living in such circumstances should respond more rapidly to environmental changes and should be more ready to seek out alternative solutions to the problems they encounter (Day, Crews, & Wilczynski, 1999;Jones, 2005;Robinson, 1990;Tomasello & Call, 1997). What is meant by this prediction varies from one author to another, however: There are at least three different, though presumably related, connotations of flexibility in the behavioral literature.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Serial reversal learning and the evolution of behavioral flexibility in three species of North American corvids (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus, Nucifraga columbiana, Aphelocoma californica).

Bond¹,

Kamil²,

Balda³

2007

Journal of Comparative Psychology

220

231

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In serial reversal learning, subjects learn to respond differentially to 2 stimuli. When the task is fully acquired, reward contingencies are reversed, requiring the subject to relearn the altered associations. This alternation of acquisition and reversal can be repeated many times, and the ability of a species to adapt to this regimen has been considered as an indication of behavioral flexibility. Serial reversal learning of 2-choice discriminations was contrasted in 3 related species of North American corvids: pinyon jays (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), which are highly social; Clark's nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana), which are relatively solitary but specialized for spatial memory; and western scrub jays (Aphelocoma californica), which are ecological generalists. Pinyon jays displayed significantly lower error rates than did nutcrackers or scrub jays after reversal of reward contingencies for both spatial and color stimuli. The effect was most apparent in the 1st session following each reversal and did not reflect species differences in the rate of initial discrimination learning. All 3 species improved their performance over successive reversals and showed significant transfer between color and spatial tasks, suggesting a generalized learning strategy. The results are consistent with an evolutionary association between behavioral flexibility and social complexity.

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Spatial and reversal learning in congeneric lizards with different foraging strategies

Cited by 138 publications

References 37 publications

Learning outdoors: male lizards show flexible spatial learning under semi-natural conditions

Learning outdoors: male lizards show flexible spatial learning under semi-natural conditions

Spatial memory: are lizards really deficient?

Serial reversal learning and the evolution of behavioral flexibility in three species of North American corvids (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus, Nucifraga columbiana, Aphelocoma californica).

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