The contribution of executive functions to sex differences in animal cognition

Lucon‐Xiccato, Tyrone

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104705

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 168 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Therefore, it can be deduced that the sex difference is restricted to the initial choice between the two options. Sexual differences have been increasingly documented in cognitive research in fish (reviewed in Lucon‐Xiccato, 2022). A previous study has shown that female guppies outperformed males in a similar problem‐solving task involving dislodging a disc (Lucon‐Xiccato et al., 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do captive fish need cognitive enrichment? A test with a puzzle feeder in guppies

Varracchio,

Gatto,

Bertolucci

et al. 2024

Ethology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For many mammalian and avian species, it has been proposed that cognitive enrichment, such as puzzle feeders, can improve welfare in captive conditions. A well‐established method to evaluate the need for cognitive enrichment is to observe the preference of the animal between freely available food and a puzzle feeder. We investigated this preference in a teleost fish, the guppy. In most of our experimental trials, guppies first chose the feeder with freely available food over the puzzle feeder, in contrast with what was observed in most other species. Nevertheless, the guppies' number of choices for the puzzle feeder was significantly greater than zero. Moreover, after consuming the freely available food, most of the guppies tackled the puzzle feeder. This pattern of results suggests that guppies displayed a certain interest in the puzzle feeder that was overshadowed by their strong attraction towards the free food. Interestingly, several measures of performance indicated that female guppies responded more positively towards the puzzle feeder as compared to the males, suggesting sex differences in the preference for cognitive enrichment. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential significance of cognitive enrichment for captive fish. Considering that the number of individual fish maintained in captivity exceeds by far that of any other vertebrate group, it is paramount to investigate cognitive enrichment in other teleost species.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do captive fish need cognitive enrichment? A test with a puzzle feeder in guppies

Varracchio,

Gatto,

Bertolucci

et al. 2024

Ethology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We included the following fixed effects: species (herring gulls vs lesser black-backed gulls), treatment (predictable vs unpredictable), sex (female vs male), and (scaled) latency to exit the start box as a general measure of motivational state and activity level. We included sex because previous studies found sex differences in tasks measuring stopping (Lucon-Xiccato, 2022). We included enclosure as a random effect.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond a Unitary Construct: Dissecting Stopping Behaviour in Two Bird Species

Troisi,

Vernouillet,

Allaert

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The ability to stop behaviour is essential for adapting to changes in the environment, a principle that holds true across various species. While traditionally considered a unitary psychological construct, recent studies indicate that this ability is multifaceted. Our research evaluates this multifaceted nature using three tasks that measure stopping in different contexts in two related gull species: herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus). These species were selected for their distinct migration and foraging strategies, offering a unique lens through which to examine behavioural adaptations. Across tasks and species, we conceptualised stopping as a race between a go and a stop runner, and predicted correlations based on the type of stop stimulus, the relative timing of the go and the stop stimuli, and the type of action that needed to be stopped. We found correlations between measures of ‘going’ across tasks, but there was less consistency in measures of ‘stopping’. Furthermore, we observed significant differences in ‘going’ and ‘stopping’ behaviours that were specific to each species, which may be linked to their migration and foraging strategies. These findings highlight the importance of considering the multifaceted nature of stopping in evolutionary and behavioural studies.

show abstract

“…As for sex differences, our study is exploratory as the evidence is controversial in fish and can vary depending on the species being studied. According to an extensive review by Lucon‐Xiccato ( 2022 ) on sex differences in executive functions across species and taxa, the evidence is inconclusive, and it varies significantly from one species to another.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Executive functions and brain morphology of male and female dominant and subordinate cichlid fish

Guadagno,

Triki

2024

Brain and Behavior

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundLiving 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.MethodsHere, 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.ResultsPerformance 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.ConclusionAs 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.

show abstract

The contribution of executive functions to sex differences in animal cognition

Cited by 15 publications

References 168 publications

Do captive fish need cognitive enrichment? A test with a puzzle feeder in guppies

Do captive fish need cognitive enrichment? A test with a puzzle feeder in guppies

Beyond a Unitary Construct: Dissecting Stopping Behaviour in Two Bird Species

Executive functions and brain morphology of male and female dominant and subordinate cichlid fish

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About