Dynamics and development of interhemispheric conflict solving in pigeons

The dominance of one hemisphere for cognitive operations and decision making may be an efficient mechanism solving interhemispheric conflicts. To understand the ecological significance of the so-called metacontrol, we need better knowledge of its frequency and ontogenetic foundations. Since in pigeons, embryonic light experiences influence degree and direction of interhemispheric specialization and communication, it is conceivable that light affects metacontrol mechanisms. We therefore trained pigeons (Columba livia) with and without embryonic light stimulation in a colour discrimination task. Each eye/hemisphere learnt a different set of colours. After training, hemispheric-specific information was put into conflict and the analysis of conflict decision pattern allowed the identification of hemispheric dominance under binocular and monocular viewing conditions. A majority of pigeons displayed individual metacontrol independent of embryonic light experiences though not in the first test session. Reaction times indicate that interhemispheric mechanisms are critically involved in mediating the dominance of one hemisphere. The impact of interhemispheric components rises with increasing experience and even affects decision making under monocular seeing conditions. Overall results indicate that the hemispheres do not evaluate information independently and that interhemispheric communication in the pigeon brain is much stronger than previously thought and becomes more important with increasing experience.