Individual differences in exploratory activity relate to cognitive judgement bias in carpenter ants

2017 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 63-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrizia d’Ettorre ◽  
Claudio Carere ◽  
Lara Demora ◽  
Pauline Le Quinquis ◽  
Lisa Signorotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Exploratory Activity ◽  
Carpenter Ants ◽  
Judgement Bias

scholarly journals Heritabilities and co-variation among cognitive traits in red junglefowl

2018 ◽  
Vol 373 (1756) ◽  
pp. 20170285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Sorato ◽  
Josefina Zidar ◽  
Laura Garnham ◽  
Alastair Wilson ◽  
Hanne Løvlie
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Associative Learning ◽  
Genetic Control ◽  
Reversal Learning ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Discriminative Learning ◽  
Red Junglefowl ◽  
Judgement Bias ◽  
Cognitive Traits

Natural selection can act on between-individual variation in cognitive abilities, yet evolutionary responses depend on the presence of underlying genetic variation. It is, therefore, crucial to determine the relative extent of genetic versus environmental control of these among-individual differences in cognitive traits to understand their causes and evolutionary potential. We investigated heritability of associative learning performance and of a cognitive judgement bias (optimism), as well as their covariation, in a captive pedigree-bred population of red junglefowl ( Gallus gallus , n > 300 chicks over 5 years). We analysed performance in discriminative and reversal learning (two facets of associative learning), and cognitive judgement bias, by conducting animal models to disentangle genetic from environmental contributions. We demonstrate moderate heritability for reversal learning, and weak to no heritability for optimism and discriminative learning, respectively. The two facets of associative learning were weakly negatively correlated, consistent with hypothesized trade-offs underpinning individual cognitive styles. Reversal, but not discriminative learning performance, was associated with judgement bias; less optimistic individuals reversed a previously learnt association faster. Together these results indicate that genetic and environmental contributions differ among traits. While modular models of cognitive abilities predict a lack of common genetic control for different cognitive traits, further investigation is required to fully ascertain the degree of covariation between a broader range of cognitive traits and the extent of any shared genetic control. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities’.

Cocaine-induced changes in behaviour and DNA methylation in rats are influenced by inter-individual differences in spontaneous exploratory activity

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 680-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kadi Vaher ◽  
Kaili Anier ◽  
Monika Jürgenson ◽  
Jaanus Harro ◽  
Anti Kalda
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Promoter Methylation ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Exploratory Activity ◽  
Cocaine Exposure ◽  
Lateral Habenula ◽  
Addictive Disorders

Background: Individual differences in behavioural traits influence susceptibility to addictive disorders. Drug addiction involves changes in gene expression, proposed to occur via DNA methylation (DNAm). Aims: To investigate DNAm changes in reward-related brain structures (nucleus accumbens (NAc), lateral habenula (LHb)) in response to cocaine exposure in rats differing in spontaneous exploratory activity. Methods: Rats were observed in the exploration box and categorised as high- (HE) or low explorers (LE). Rats were administered vehicle or cocaine (12 mg/kg, i.p.) for 7 days, followed by a 14-day withdrawal period and cocaine challenge (7 mg/kg); horizontal locomotor activity was recorded. Brain tissue was dissected after 24 h; we analysed messenger RNA (mRNA) and activity levels of epigenetic DNA modifiers (DNMTs and TETs) as well as mRNA and promoter methylation levels at selected genes previously linked to addictive behaviours. Results: The cocaine challenge dose stimulated locomotor activity in both LE- and HE rats only when administered after a repeated cocaine schedule, suggesting development of behavioural sensitisation. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated higher basal expression of Dnmt3a, Tet2 and Tet3 in the LHb of HE- vs. LE rats, and we observed differential effects of cocaine exposure on the expression and activity of epigenetic DNA modifiers in the NAc and LHb of HE- and LE rats. Furthermore, cocaine exposure differentially altered promoter methylation levels of A2AR, Ppp1cc, and Taar7b in the NAc and LHb of HE- and LE rats. Conclusions: DNAm might play a role in the HE- and LE phenotypes as well as mediate behavioural effects of LE- and HE rats in response to drugs of abuse.

scholarly journals Judgement Bias During Pregnancy In Domestic Pigs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily V Bushby ◽  
Sheena Cotter ◽  
Anna Wilkinson ◽  
Mary Friel ◽  
Lisa Collins
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Judgment Bias ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
Judgement Bias

In humans and rats, changes in mood and affect are known to occur during pregnancy, however it is unknown how gestation may influence mood in other non-human mammals. This study assessed changes in pigs’ judgment bias as a measure of affective state throughout gestation. Pigs were trained to complete a spatial judgement bias task with reference to positive and negative locations. We tested gilts before mating, and during early and late pregnancy, by assessing their responses to ambiguous probe locations. Pigs responded increasingly negatively to ambiguous probes as pregnancy progressed and there were consistent inter-individual differences in baseline optimism. This suggests that the pigs’ affective state may be altered during gestation, although as a non-pregnant control group was not tested, an effect of learning cannot be ruled out. These results suggest that judgement bias is altered during pregnancy in domestic pigs, consequently raising novel welfare considerations for captive multiparous species.

The challenge of accounting for individual differences in folk-economic beliefs

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin C. Ruisch ◽  
Rajen A. Anderson ◽  
David A. Pizarro
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Political Ideologies ◽  
Economic Beliefs ◽  
Existing Data

AbstractWe argue that existing data on folk-economic beliefs (FEBs) present challenges to Boyer & Petersen's model. Specifically, the widespread individual variation in endorsement of FEBs casts doubt on the claim that humans are evolutionarily predisposed towards particular economic beliefs. Additionally, the authors' model cannot account for the systematic covariance between certain FEBs, such as those observed in distinct political ideologies.

Individual differences, social attention, and the history of the social motivation hypotheses of autism

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Mundy
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Early Development ◽  
Emotional Development ◽  
Social Motivation ◽  
Social Attention ◽  
Social Emotional Development ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Precise Understanding ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of

Abstract The stereotype of people with autism as unresponsive or uninterested in other people was prominent in the 1980s. However, this view of autism has steadily given way to recognition of important individual differences in the social-emotional development of affected people and a more precise understanding of the possible role social motivation has in their early development.

Elaborating the role of reflection and individual differences in the study of folk-economic beliefs

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Arceneaux
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
History Of ◽  
Economic Beliefs

AbstractIntuitions guide decision-making, and looking to the evolutionary history of humans illuminates why some behavioral responses are more intuitive than others. Yet a place remains for cognitive processes to second-guess intuitive responses – that is, to be reflective – and individual differences abound in automatic, intuitive processing as well.

Inter-individual variation shapes the human microbiome

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily F. Wissel ◽  
Leigh K. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Human Microbiome ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Microbiota Composition ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Microbiome Research

Abstract The target article suggests inter-individual variability is a weakness of microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) research, but we discuss why it is actually a strength. We comment on how accounting for individual differences can help researchers systematically understand the observed variance in microbiota composition, interpret null findings, and potentially improve the efficacy of therapeutic treatments in future clinical microbiome research.

Why Speech-Language Clinicians Should Be in the Classroom

1991 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon L. Wadle
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Task Analysis ◽  
Regular Classroom ◽  
Classroom Setting ◽  
Therapy Room

Lack of training is only an excuse for not collaborating outside of the therapy room. With our present training, speech-language clinicians have many skills to share in the regular classroom setting. This training has provided skills in task analysis, a language focus, an appreciation and awareness of individual differences in learning, and motivational techniques.

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