scholarly journals An integrative measure of cognitive performance, but not individual task performance, is linked to male reproductive output in budgerigars

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Medina-García ◽  
Timothy F. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Third Stage ◽  
Pair Mating ◽  
Survival And Reproduction ◽  
Breeding Attempt ◽  
Mating Choice ◽  
Extra Pair Mating

AbstractCognitive abilities such as learning and memory are key for survival and reproduction. Individuals with high cognitive abilities may be more successful at attracting mates and producing offspring. However, empirical tests of and evidence supporting this hypothesis remain scarce. We measured cognitive performance of male budgerigars in four tasks: problem solving, detour reaching, seed discrimination, and spatial memory. We then tested female choice for male cognition at three stages of the mating choice process: social pairing, extra-pair mating, and continued reproductive investment with a social mate. We also measured female reproductive output. We used an integrative measure of male cognitive performance that encapsulates performance across all tasks, the ‘composite cognitive score’ by summing performance on the four tasks. In the first stage, females did not choose their social mates based on any of the measures of male cognitive performance. In the second stage, however, males with higher composite cognitive scores sired and raised more offspring. In the third stage, females increased their reproductive investment after the first breeding attempt when paired with males with higher detour-reaching scores. These results suggest that female reproductive decisions may shape overall male cognitive performance.

scholarly journals The long-term associations between parental behaviors, cognitive function and brain activation in adolescence

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Orwa Dandash ◽  
Nicolas Cherbuin ◽  
Orli Schwartz ◽  
Nicholas B. Allen ◽  
Sarah Whittle
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Early Adolescence ◽  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Brain Activation ◽  
Late Adolescence ◽  
Parenting Behavior ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Fmri Study

AbstractParenting behavior has a vital role in the development of the brain and cognitive abilities of offspring throughout childhood and adolescence. While positive and aggressive parenting behavior have been suggested to impact neurobiology in the form of abnormal brain activation in adolescents, little work has investigated the links between parenting behavior and the neurobiological correlates of cognitive performance during this age period. In the current longitudinal fMRI study, associations between parenting behaviors and cognitive performance and brain activation across mid- and late-adolescence were assessed. Observed measures of maternal aggressive and positive behavior were recorded in early adolescence (12 years) and correlated with fMRI activation and in-scanner behavioral scores on the multi-source interference task (MSIT) during mid- (16 years; 95 participants) and late-adolescence (19 years; 75 participants). There was a significant reduction in inhibitory-control-related brain activation in posterior parietal and cingulate cortices as participants transitioned from mid- to late-adolescence. Positive maternal behavior in early-adolescence was associated with lower activation in the left parietal and DLPFC during the MSIT in mid-adolescence, whereas maternal aggressive behavior was associated with longer reaction time to incongruent trials in late-adolescence. The study supports the notion that maternal behavior may influence subsequent neurocognitive development during adolescence.

Extra-Pair Mating System of a Synchronously Breeding Tropical Songbird

1998 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridget J. M. Stutchbury ◽  
Eugene S. Morton ◽  
Walter H. Piper
Keyword(s):  
Mating System ◽  
Pair Mating ◽  
Extra Pair Mating

scholarly journals Cognitive reserve in elderly: neuropsychological aspects and the education role in the latest findings

2015 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
João Gabriel Magalhães Dias ◽  
Pablo Rodrigo Andrade da Silva ◽  
Tânia Corrêa de Toledo Ferraz Alvez
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cortical Atrophy ◽  
Print Exposure ◽  
Cognitive Markers

The elderly population is growing worldwide, and therefore cognitive decline and dementia is a major problem for healthcare system. However, many elders do not develop dementia or significant cognitive impairment even though present brain lesions, such as cortical atrophy and/or lesions, leading to the concept of Cognitive Reserve (CR). The main objective of this review is to establish the recent findings of CR in elderly cognition and explore some of the cognitive markers related to CR. In order to accomplish that we carried out a search for papers published either in English or Portuguese language in the last 5 years in the Medline database using as keywords cognitive reserve, elderly and aging/ageing. We filtered 14 studies that specifically approached the neuropsychological aspects (e.g, memory, attention, orientation, executive function) and reviewed them in detail. Based on these papers regarding old-aged individuals, education appears to have several implications on CR by strengthening cognitive abilities, however does not appear to impact on cognitive decline. Besides, we realized that cognitive performance is one of the form to measure CR, even though the methods cannot be standardized, which may be the cause of some varied conclusions. Regarding CR, education was the most prevalent measure, and CR seems to have a beneficial effect on executive function and episodic memory and it seems to act by both neural reserve and neural compensation. Print exposure appears as a potential variable positively related to cognitive performance and CR.

scholarly journals Associations of Body Mass Index, Visceral Fat Area, Waist Circumference, and Waist-To-Hip Ratio with Cognitive Function in Western China: Results from A WCHAT Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolei Liu ◽  
Xiaoyan Chen ◽  
Lisha Hou ◽  
Xin Xia ◽  
Fengjuan Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Visceral Fat ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Western China ◽  
Visceral Fat Area ◽  
Waist To Hip Ratio

Abstract ObjectivesThis study examined the relationship between cognitive performance and obesity parameters, such as body mass index (BMI), visceral fat area (VFA), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in western China.Study designA cross-sectional studyMethods3914 participants, aged >50 years, were recruited in this study. Anthropometrics measurements, life-style factors, chronic disease comorbidities, and sleep qualities were recorded for each participant. Among the anthropometrics, BMP, WC, and WHR were assessed using standard procedures, while VHA was calculated using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Cognitive performance was estimated using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). Finally, relationships between cognitive abilities and BMI, VFA, WC, and WHR were evaluated using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. ResultsCognitive decline (CD) occurred at a rate of 13.29% among the 3914 participants. A strong correlation was observed between cognitive abilities and BMI of male patients aged 50-59 yrs (OR 1.116,95% CI1.002-1.242), in the adjusted model. Alternately, WHR was shown to be significantly related to CD in females aged >70 years (OR 0.041, 95% CI0.002-0.671). WC was shown to have a strong association with CD in males (OR 1.023,95% CI1.003-1.024). Lastly, WHR was closely connected to CD in participants with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (OR 0.022,95% CI0.002-0.209).Conclusions Our findings suggest that a higher middle age BMI is associated with CD, whereas, in the elderly population, a higher WHR is related to improved cognitive performance. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate a relationship between VFA and CD.

scholarly journals Effects of the physical and social environment on youth cognitive performance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley J Meredith ◽  
Carlos Cardenas-Iniguez ◽  
Marc Berman ◽  
Monica Rosenberg
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
National Database ◽  
Brain Functioning ◽  
Unique Variance ◽  
Children's Home ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Caregiver Report

Individual differences in children’s cognitive abilities impact life and health outcomes. What factors influence these individual differences during development? Here we test whether children’s environments predict cognitive performance, independent of well- characterized socioeconomic effects. We analyzed data from 9002 9–10-year-olds from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, an ongoing longitudinal study with community samples across the U.S.A. Using youth- and caregiver-report questionnaires and national database registries (e.g., neighborhood crime, walkability), we defined principal components summarizing children’s home, school, neighborhood, and cultural environments. In two independent samples (ns = 3475, 5527), environmental components explained unique variance in children’s general cognitive ability, executive functioning, and learning/memory abilities. Furthermore, increased neighborhood enrichment was associated with a decreased relationship between sociodemographics and general cognitive abilities. Thus, the environment explains unique variance in cognitive performance in development and should be considered alongside sociodemographic factors to understand brain functioning and behavior.

scholarly journals Efficacy of tablet-based applications for mental training in preserving cognitive abilities of older adults

ABOUTOPEN ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-30
Author(s):  
Marcello Maria Turconi ◽  
Filomena Vella ◽  
Francesco Mosetti
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Mental Training ◽  
Versus Group ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Background and aims: Nonpathological, age-related cognitive decline is among the most feared consequences of aging. Evidence suggests that the continued use of mental abilities can slow down cognitive decline. We developed two tablet-based applications for the mental training (ElasticaMente) and social interaction/entertainment (iNonni) of older adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate their effect on cognitive performance.Materials and methods: This was an exploratory study of 8 months duration. Sixty healthy residents of a senior community center aged ≥60 years were recruited and divided into three groups: participants in Groups 1 and 2 received a tablet with ElasticaMente and iNonni (Group 1, n = 20) or with iNonni only (Group 2, n = 20); participants in Group 3 (n = 20) did not receive any tablet. Participants in Groups 1 and 2 were instructed to use the applications three times a week (each session ~45 minutes). Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline (T0) and after 8 months (T1) using a battery of six validated tests.Results: In Group 1, cognitive test scores remained consistently stable from T0 to T1, suggesting maintenance of cognitive abilities. In contrast, in Groups 2 and 3, scores worsened from T0 to T1 across all tests. Comparison of the changes from T0 to T1 revealed statistical significance for Group 1 versus Group 3, but not for Group 1 versus Group 2 and Group 2 versus Group 3.Conclusion: The 8 months use of the applications ElasticaMente and iNonni was associated with a significant benefit in terms of preserved cognitive performance compared with no tablet-based activity. The potential contribution of ElasticaMente to the attenuation of cognitive decline should be further investigated.

scholarly journals The Modulatory Effect of Gender and Cytomegalovirus-Seropositivity on Circulating Inflammatory Factors and Cognitive Performance in Elderly Individuals

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Di Benedetto ◽  
Marcel Gaetjen ◽  
Ludmila Müller
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Fluid Intelligence ◽  
Inflammatory Factors ◽  
Metabolic Markers ◽  
Inflammatory Status ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Potential Contributor ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
And Gender

Aging is characterized by a chronic increase in the systemic levels of inflammatory cytokines even in ostensibly healthy individuals. The drivers of age-related increase in systemic inflammation are unclear but one potential contributor may be a persistent infection with Cytomegalovirus (CMV). In this study, we characterized the inflammatory status of 161 older participants recruited to undergo a six-month training intervention. We investigated the influence of gender and CMV-seropositivity on the main inflammatory and anti-inflammatory circulating biomarkers, such as cytokines, receptor antagonist, soluble receptor, immune cells, and relevant metabolic markers. We found that both gender and CMV-seropositivity modulate circulating peripheral biomarkers, and that CMV-infection modifies associations among the latter. Moreover, we observed an interaction between CMV-serostatus and gender associations with cognitive abilities: gender differences in fluid intelligence (Gf) and working memory (WM) were noted only in CMV-negative individuals. Finally, we found that in the CMV-seronegative participants Gf, episodic memory (EM), and WM correlated negatively with pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF); and EM correlated positively with anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10. In CMV-seropositive individuals EM and Gf correlated negatively with pro-inflammatory IL-6, while EM, Gf, and WM correlated negatively with anti-inflammatory IL-1RA. We conclude that both CMV-serostatus and gender may modulate neuroimmune factors, cognitive performance and the relationship between the two domains and should therefore be considered in comparative and interventional studies with elderly people.

scholarly journals Linking ecology and cognition: does ecological specialisation predict cognitive test performance?

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Henke-von der Malsburg ◽  
Peter M. Kappeler ◽  
Claudia Fichtel
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Social Intelligence ◽  
Brain Size ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Ecological Processes

AbstractVariation in cognitive abilities is thought to be linked to variation in brain size, which varies across species with either social factors (Social Intelligence Hypothesis) or ecological challenges (Ecological Intelligence Hypothesis). However, the nature of the ecological processes invoked by the Ecological Intelligence Hypothesis, like adaptations to certain habitat characteristics or dietary requirements, remains relatively poorly known. Here, we review comparative studies that experimentally investigated interspecific variation in cognitive performance in relation to a species’ degree of ecological specialisation. Overall, the relevant literature was biased towards studies of mammals and birds as well as studies focusing on ecological challenges related to diet. We separated ecological challenges into those related to searching for food, accessing a food item and memorising food locations. We found interspecific variation in cognitive performance that can be explained by adaptations to different foraging styles. Species-specific adaptations to certain ecological conditions, like food patch distribution, characteristics of food items or seasonality also broadly predicted variation in cognitive abilities. A species’ innovative problem-solving and spatial processing ability, for example, could be explained by its use of specific foraging techniques or search strategies, respectively. Further, habitat generalists were more likely to outperform habitat specialists. Hence, we found evidence that ecological adaptations and cognitive performance are linked and that the classification concept of ecological specialisation can explain variation in cognitive performance only with regard to habitat, but not dietary specialisation.

scholarly journals The repeatability of cognitive performance: a meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 373 (1756) ◽  
pp. 20170281 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Cauchoix ◽  
P. K. Y. Chow ◽  
J. O. van Horik ◽  
C. M. Atance ◽  
E. J. Barbeau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Widespread Occurrence ◽  
Taxonomic Class ◽  
Vast Literature

Behavioural and cognitive processes play important roles in mediating an individual's interactions with its environment. Yet, while there is a vast literature on repeatable individual differences in behaviour, relatively little is known about the repeatability of cognitive performance. To further our understanding of the evolution of cognition, we gathered 44 studies on individual performance of 25 species across six animal classes and used meta-analysis to assess whether cognitive performance is repeatable. We compared repeatability ( R ) in performance (1) on the same task presented at different times (temporal repeatability), and (2) on different tasks that measured the same putative cognitive ability (contextual repeatability). We also addressed whether R estimates were influenced by seven extrinsic factors (moderators): type of cognitive performance measurement, type of cognitive task, delay between tests, origin of the subjects, experimental context, taxonomic class and publication status. We found support for both temporal and contextual repeatability of cognitive performance, with mean R estimates ranging between 0.15 and 0.28. Repeatability estimates were mostly influenced by the type of cognitive performance measures and publication status. Our findings highlight the widespread occurrence of consistent inter-individual variation in cognition across a range of taxa which, like behaviour, may be associated with fitness outcomes. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities’.

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