Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Mate Choice01:20

Mate Choice

11.5K
Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.
11.5K
Types of Selection01:46

Types of Selection

43.8K
Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
43.8K
Cognitive Learning01:21

Cognitive Learning

990
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
990

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Conformity and individual preference shape nest material use in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).

PloS one·2026
Same author

Comparing and validating different methods for olfactory threshold measurement in dogs.

Behavioural processes·2026
Same author

Dynamic strategic social learning in nest-building zebra finches and its generalizability.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same author

A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia.

PLoS biology·2025
Same author

Influence of wind on movement behaviour in Arctic grizzly bears.

Behavioural processes·2025
Same author

Variation in animal architecture: Genes, environment, and culture.

Learning & behavior·2024
Same journal

High Gene Flow Despite Urbanization: Genetic Diversity and Structure of the Eastern Spotted Dove (<i>Spilopelia chinensis</i>) in Jiangsu Province, China and Implications for Releasing Confiscated Individuals.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same journal

Evidence of Small Changes in Daytime Body Temperature in Active Black-Capped Chickadees in Response to Supplemental Food Availability.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same journal

Seasonal Variation of Butterfly Diversity in Subtropical Urban Forests of Nepal.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same journal

Influences of Carrion Decomposition on Soil Nutrient Leakage in a Boreal Forest.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same journal

Salamander-<i>Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans</i> Interactions Through Dual Transcriptomics.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same journal

Flower Feeding and Reproductive Timing in Spix's Night Monkeys (<i>Aotus vociferans</i>): Evidence From Arboreal Camera Traps.

Ecology and evolution·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Operant Conditioning Task to Measure Song Preference in Zebra Finches
06:40

Operant Conditioning Task to Measure Song Preference in Zebra Finches

Published on: December 26, 2019

6.9K

No Sex-Differences in Learning Trap-Gap Problems in Zebra Finches.

Connor T Lambert1, Benjamin A Whittaker1, Brandon Neil1

  • 1Department of Psychology University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada.

Ecology and Evolution
|November 13, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Male and female zebra finches showed no cognitive differences in a spatial reasoning task, despite males

Keywords:
cognitive ecologylearningnest buildingphysical cognitionsex‐differenceszebra finch

More Related Videos

Dissection and Downstream Analysis of Zebra Finch Embryos at Early Stages of Development
09:23

Dissection and Downstream Analysis of Zebra Finch Embryos at Early Stages of Development

Published on: June 21, 2014

11.2K
Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms
08:00

Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms

Published on: November 17, 2018

15.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Operant Conditioning Task to Measure Song Preference in Zebra Finches
06:40

Operant Conditioning Task to Measure Song Preference in Zebra Finches

Published on: December 26, 2019

6.9K
Dissection and Downstream Analysis of Zebra Finch Embryos at Early Stages of Development
09:23

Dissection and Downstream Analysis of Zebra Finch Embryos at Early Stages of Development

Published on: June 21, 2014

11.2K
Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms
08:00

Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms

Published on: November 17, 2018

15.0K

Area of Science:

  • Comparative cognition
  • Neuroethology
  • Avian behavior

Background:

  • Sex differences in cognition are often linked to ecological roles and selective pressures.
  • In zebra finches, males build nests, suggesting potential for enhanced spatial cognition.
  • The study investigates if male zebra finches possess superior physical cognition related to nest building.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that male zebra finches exhibit enhanced physical cognition compared to females.
  • To evaluate cognitive abilities in object-hole relationship assessment using the trap-gap task.
  • To determine if sex differences in cognition align with behavioral sex roles in zebra finches.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the trap-gap task, a shape-frame matching paradigm.
  • Birds were trained on barrier or tray tasks and then transferred to the alternate task.
  • Assessed learning criteria and errors during the transfer test to evaluate cognitive strategies.

Main Results:

  • No significant sex differences were observed in learning speed or error rates in the trap-gap task.
  • Birds learned the tray task faster than the barrier task.
  • Performance on the transfer test was at chance, indicating reliance on absolute cue-based strategies.

Conclusions:

  • The hypothesis of enhanced male physical cognition in zebra finches was not supported by the trap-gap task.
  • Cognitive performance may not directly correlate with sex-specific behavioral roles due to differing spatial frames of reference.
  • Task design and ecological relevance are crucial for understanding cognitive specialization in comparative research.