scholarly journals Cognitive Phenotypic Plasticity: Environmental Enrichment Affects Learning but Not Executive Functions in a Teleost Fish, Poecilia reticulata

Biology ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Giulia Montalbano ◽  
Cristiano Bertolucci ◽  
Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Teleost Fish ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Poecilia Reticulata ◽  
Enriched Environment ◽  
Learning Ability ◽  
Live Prey ◽  
Cognitive Traits

Many aspects of animal cognition are plastically adjusted in response to the environment through individual experience. A remarkable example of this cognitive phenotypic plasticity is often observed when comparing individuals raised in a barren environment to individuals raised in an enriched environment. Evidence of enrichment-driven cognitive plasticity in teleost fish continues to grow, but it remains restricted to a few cognitive traits. The purpose of this study was to investigate how environmental enrichment affects multiple cognitive traits (learning, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control) in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata. To reach this goal, we exposed new-born guppies to different treatments: an enrichment environment with social companions, natural substrate, vegetation, and live prey or a barren environment with none of the above. After a month of treatment, we tested the subjects in a battery of three cognitive tasks. Guppies from the enriched environment learned a color discrimination faster compared to guppies from the environment with no enrichments. We observed no difference between guppies of the two treatments in the cognitive flexibility task, requiring selection of a previously unrewarded stimulus, nor in the inhibitory control task, requiring the inhibition of the attack response toward live prey. Overall, the results indicated that environmental enrichment had an influence on guppies’ learning ability, but not on the remaining cognitive functions investigated.

scholarly journals Executive Functions and Their Relationship with the Development of Russian Speech in Bilingual and Monolingual Children

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 412-425
Author(s):  
Vera Yu. Khotinets ◽  
Sofya A. Salnova
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Speech Development ◽  
Russian Language ◽  
Preschool Age ◽  
Learning Ability ◽  
Language Version ◽  
Udmurt Republic

The article discusses the results of a study of the relationship between executive functions (inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, working (speech and visual) memory and the development of Russian speech in children with natural bilingualism and monolinguals in older preschool age. The study involved 63 preschool children (50.8% - boys) aged from 5.6 to 7.3 years (M = 6.42, Med = 6.4) from preschool institutions of Izhevsk (Udmurt Republic). The sample included 31 children with natural bilingualism (Udmurt/Russian language) and 32 monolinguals (Russian language). Standardised methods in the Russian-language version were used to identify the executive functions: the method of verbal-colour interference of by J. Stroop (inhibitory control), the method of studying the learning ability by A.Y. Ivanova (cognitive flexibility) and the test tasks Speech Memory and Visual Memory (working memory). The level of speech development was measured using the test tasks Speech Antonyms, Speech Classifications and Arbitrary Mastery of Speech developed by L.А. Yasyukova. The following mathematical statistics methods were used: descriptive statistics, Mann - Whitney U-test and Spearman rank correlations. According to the results of the study, the facts of the advantages of bilingualism in older preschool age in executive functions, in particular, in inhibitory control cognitive flexibility and speech memory were confirmed. At the same time, no general patterns were determined in the development of Russian speech (L2) in connection with the development of the executive functions of bilingual children: this is explained by the individualisation of the processes of linking the components of speech activity in the second language and cognitive control. In monolingual preschoolers, the speech development in their native language (L1) is associated with the formation of higher mental (executive) functions and the development of the ability to control information processing.

scholarly journals Effect of Environmental Enrichment on the Brain and on Learning and Cognition by Animals

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 973
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Zentall
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Behavioral Effect ◽  
Enriched Environment ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Accurate Assessment ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Complex Tasks ◽  
Learning And Cognition ◽  
The Brain

The humane treatment of animals suggests that they should be housed in an environment that is rich in stimulation and allows for varied activities. However, even if one’s main concern is an accurate assessment of their learning and cognitive abilities, housing them in an enriched environment can have an important effect on the assessment of those abilities. Research has found that the development of the brain of animals is significantly affected by the environment in which they live. Not surprisingly, their ability to learn both simple and complex tasks is affected by even modest time spent in an enriched environment. In particular, animals that are housed in an enriched environment are less impulsive and make more optimal choices than animals housed in isolation. Even the way that they judge the passage of time is affected by their housing conditions. Some researchers have even suggested that exposing animals to an enriched environment can make them more “optimistic” in how they treat ambiguous stimuli. Whether that behavioral effect reflects the subtlety of differences in optimism/pessimism or something simpler, like differences in motivation, incentive, discriminability, or neophobia, it is clear that the conditions of housing can have an important effect on the learning and cognition of animals.

Caregiving adversity during infancy and preschool cognitive function: adaptations to context?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Anne Rifkin-Graboi ◽  
Shaun Kok-Yew Goh ◽  
Hui Jun Chong ◽  
Stella Tsotsi ◽  
Lit Wee Sim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Maternal Sensitivity ◽  
Wald Test ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pedagogical Strategies ◽  
Framework Approach

Abstract From a conditional adaptation vantage point, early life caregiving adversity likely enhances aspects of cognition needed to manage interpersonal threats. Yet, research examining early life care and offspring cognition predominantly relies upon experiments including affectively neutral stimuli, with findings generally interpreted as “early-life caregiving adversity is, de facto, ‘bad’ for cognitive performance.” Here, in a Southeast Asian sample, we examined observed maternal sensitivity in infancy and cognitive performance 3 years later as preschoolers took part in three tasks, each involving both a socioemotional (SE) and non-socioemotional (NSE) version: relational memory (n = 236), cognitive flexibility (n = 203), and inhibitory control (n = 255). Results indicate the relation between early life caregiving adversity and memory performance significantly differs (Wald test = 7.67, (1), P = 0.006) depending on the SE versus NSE context, with maternal sensitivity in infancy highly predictive of worse memory for SE stimuli, and amongst girls, also predictive of better memory when NSE stimuli are used. Results concerning inhibitory control, as well as cognitive flexibility in girls, also tentatively suggest the importance of considering the SE nature of stimuli when assessing relations between the caregiving environment and cognitive performance. As not all approaches to missing data yielded similar results, implications for statistical approaches are elaborated. We conclude by considering how an adaptation-to-context framework approach may aid in designing pedagogical strategies and well-being interventions that harness pre-existing cognitive strengths.

scholarly journals Effects of Sport-Based Interventions on Children’s Executive Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 755
Author(s):  
Falonn Contreras-Osorio ◽  
Christian Campos-Jara ◽  
Cristian Martínez-Salazar ◽  
Luis Chirosa-Ríos ◽  
Darío Martínez-García
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
The Impact

One of the most studied aspects of children’s cognitive development is that of the development of the executive function, and research has shown that physical activity has been demonstrated as a key factor in its enhancement. This meta-analysis aims to assess the impact of specific sports interventions on the executive function of children and teenagers. A systematic review was carried out on 1 November 2020 to search for published scientific evidence that analysed different sports programs that possibly affected executive function in students. Longitudinal studies, which assessed the effects of sports interventions on subjects between 6 and 18 years old, were identified through a systematic search of the four principal electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO. A total of eight studies, with 424 subjects overall, met the inclusion criteria and were classified based on one or more of the following categories: working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. The random-effects model for meta-analyses was performed with RevMan version 5.3 to facilitate the analysis of the studies. Large effect sizes were found in all categories: working memory (ES −1.25; 95% CI −1.70; −0.79; p < 0.0001); inhibitory control (ES −1.30; 95% CI −1.98; −0.63; p < 0.00001); and cognitive flexibility (ES −1.52; 95% CI −2.20; −0.83; p < 0.00001). Our analysis concluded that healthy children and teenagers should be encouraged to practice sports in order to improve their executive function at every stage of their development.

Environmental enrichment enhances cognitive flexibility in C57BL/6 mice on a touchscreen reversal learning task

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 ◽  
pp. 219-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston ◽  
Emma L. Burrows ◽  
Thibault Renoir ◽  
Anthony J. Hannan
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Reversal Learning ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Learning Task

scholarly journals Differential Microglial Morphological Response, TNFα, and Viral Load in Sedentary-like and Active Murine Models After Systemic Non-neurotropic Dengue Virus Infection

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 419-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Freitas Gomes ◽  
Railana Deise da Fonseca Peixoto ◽  
Brenda Gonçalves Maciel ◽  
Kedma Farias dos Santos ◽  
Lohrane Rosa Bayma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Enriched Environment ◽  
Lateral Septum ◽  
Type I ◽  
Murine Models ◽  
Morphological Response ◽  
Morphological Complexity

Peripheral inflammatory stimuli increase proinflammatory cytokines in the bloodstream and central nervous system and activate microglial cells. Here we tested the hypothesis that contrasting environments mimicking sedentary and active lives would be associated with differential microglial morphological responses, inflammatory cytokines concentration, and virus load in the peripheral blood. For this, mice were maintained either in standard (standard environment) or enriched cages (enriched environment) and then subjected to a single (DENV1) serotype infection. Blood samples from infected animals showed higher viral loads and higher tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) mRNA concentrations than control subjects. Using an unbiased stereological sampling approach, we selected 544 microglia from lateral septum for microscopic 3D reconstruction. Morphological complexity contributed most to cluster formation. Infected groups exhibited significant increase in the microglia morphological complexity and number, despite the absence of dengue virus antigens in the brain. Two microglial phenotypes (type I with lower and type II with higher morphological complexity) were found in both infected and control groups. However, microglia from infected mice maintained in enriched environment showed only one morphological phenotype. Two-way ANOVA revealed that environmental changes and infection influenced type-I and II microglial morphologies and number. Environmental enrichment and infection interactions may contribute to microglial morphological change to a point that type-I and II morphological phenotypes could no longer be distinguished in infected mice from enriched environment. Significant linear correlation was found between morphological complexity and TNFα peripheral blood. Our findings demonstrated that sedentary-like and active murine models exhibited differential microglial responses and peripheral inflammation to systemic non-neurotropic infections with DENV1 virus.

The effect of experience and olfactory cue in an inhibitory control task in guppies, Poecilia reticulata

2019 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Santacà ◽  
Melania Busatta ◽  
Beste Başak Savaşçı ◽  
Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato ◽  
Angelo Bisazza
Keyword(s):  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Poecilia Reticulata ◽  
Control Task ◽  
Olfactory Cue

scholarly journals Executive functioning as a predictive measure of offending behaviour

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin A. Spenser ◽  
Ray Bull ◽  
Lucy Betts ◽  
Belinda Winder
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Moral Reasoning ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Empathic Understanding ◽  
The Impact

PurposeProsociality is considered important in the study of offenders and associated cognitive skills: theory of mind, empathic understanding and moral reasoning, are said to enable self-control and reduce the risk of offending behaviours. Previous research has made associations between these skills and executive functioning; however, research into a link between them, in an offending population, is limited. The paper aims to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approachTo further understand the practicalities of this, the present study considered the predictive abilities of the constructs believed to underpin executive functioning: working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control, in relation to theory of mind, empathic understanding and moral reasoning. In total, 200 male and female offenders completed measures in all six constructs.FindingsUsing path analysis working memory was demonstrated to be predictive of theory of mind and empathic understanding, cognitive flexibility was found to be predictive of theory of mind, and inhibitory control was found to be predictive of theory of mind, empathic understanding and moral reasoning.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focussed on offenders serving a custodial sentence of six months or less and did not differentiate between crime categories or take into consideration the socio-environmental backgrounds or ethnicity. Therefore, considering these things could further establish the generalisability of the current findings. It is noted that the more focussed the intervention is to the specific needs of an offender, the greater the impact will be. Therefore, pre-screening tests for the constructs discussed may be able to more accurately assess an offenders’ suitability for a programme, or indeed tailor it to meet the specific needs of that person.Practical implicationsThese findings may enable practitioners to more accurately assess offenders’ suitability for interventions aimed at reducing offending behaviours by improving levels of prosociality and develop more focussed programmes to meet the specific needs of individual offenders to reduce re-offending.Social implicationsAs recommended in the study, a more tailored approach to offender rehabilitation may be a potential aid to reducing levels of recidivism.Originality/valueThe present study adds to the literature as it is the first to consider whether the constructs of executive functioning can predict levels of theory of mind, empathic understanding and moral reasoning and so provide a more accurate method in assessing the cognitive abilities of offenders prior to participation in rehabilitative interventions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document