No evidence that footedness in pheasants influences cognitive performance in tasks assessing colour discrimination and spatial ability.

ABSTRACT: The differential specialization of each side of the brain facilitates the parallel processing of information and has been documented in a wide range of animals. Animals that are more lateralized as indicated by consistent preferential limb use are commonly reported to exhibit superior cognitive ability as well as other behavioural advantages. We assayed the lateralization of 135 young pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), indicated by their footedness in a spontaneous stepping task, and related this measure to individual performance in either 3 assays of visual or spatial learning and memory. We found no evidence that pronounced footedness enhances cognitive ability in any of the tasks. We also found no evidence that an intermediate footedness relates to better cognitive performance. This lack

SUBMITTER: Whiteside MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7082386 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature