Starlings solve the ephemeral reward task.

Area of Science:

• Animal Cognition
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Comparative Psychology

Background:

• The ephemeral reward task assesses decision-making under conditions of delayed gratification.
• Performance varies across species, with some excelling while others struggle.
• Factors influencing success in this task remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing performance in the ephemeral reward task using starlings.
• To examine the impact of modified task conditions on choice behavior.
• To determine the role of reward delay in successful credit assignment.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments were conducted with starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).
• Standard and modified task conditions were employed, including single-option trials.
• Experiment 2 manipulated the delay between sequential rewards.

Main Results:

• Starlings successfully learned to prefer the optimal option in the ephemeral reward task.
• Preference for the optimal option decreased as the delay between rewards increased.
• Single-option trials facilitated learning by allowing isolated outcome experience.

Conclusions:

• Shorter delays between sequential rewards facilitate credit assignment and improve performance.
• Task design elements, such as apparatus and intertrial intervals, may influence results.
• Ecological relevance and specific task parameters interact to shape performance in reward-based decision-making tasks.