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The Attentional Set Shifting Task: A Measure of Cognitive Flexibility in Mice
Published on: February 4, 2015
Optional-switch cognitive flexibility in primates: Chimpanzees' (Pan troglodytes) intermediate susceptibility to
Sarah M Pope1, Joël Fagot2, Adrien Meguerditchian2
1Neuroscience Institute and Language Research Center.
Journal of Comparative Psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983)
|August 20, 2019
Summary
Chimpanzees show intermediate shortcut use compared to baboons and humans, with significant individual variation. Unlike humans, chimpanzees did not experience "switch costs" when changing strategies.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Comparative Psychology
- Primate Behavior
Background:
- Humans often persist with familiar strategies, a phenomenon known as cognitive set, hindering efficient problem-solving.
- Previous research indicated baboons can adopt efficient shortcuts, while humans tend to favor familiar, less efficient methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cognitive set susceptibility in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) using the Learned Strategy-Direct Strategy task.
- To compare chimpanzee flexibility with that of baboons and humans in problem-solving tasks.
Main Methods:
- Ten chimpanzees performed the Learned Strategy-Direct Strategy task.
- Multilevel multinomial modeling was employed to analyze shortcut use and strategy switching.
- Switch costs were assessed by comparing performance when switching between strategies.
Main Results:
- Chimpanzees demonstrated intermediate shortcut use between baboons and humans.
- Pronounced inter- and intraindividual variability in shortcut use was observed in chimpanzees.
- Chimpanzees did not exhibit switch costs, unlike humans, and some switched strategies midtrial.
Conclusions:
- Chimpanzee cognitive flexibility falls between baboons and humans, with notable individual differences.
- The absence of switch costs in chimpanzees suggests different mechanisms of strategy adaptation.
- Abstract rule encoding differences may explain variations in cognitive set susceptibility across primate species.
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