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Relationship between cognitive and thermoregulatory performance in the common wall lizard
Ioanna Gavriilidi1, Elina Trafali2, Panayiotis Pafilis3
1Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Journal of Thermal Biology
|January 25, 2026
Summary
Reptile thermoregulation relies on cognitive abilities. While better spatial cognition in lizards led to varied heat source use, it surprisingly did not improve thermoregulatory accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behaviour
- Physiology
- Cognitive Ecology
Background:
- Behavioural thermoregulation is vital for reptiles to optimize physiological functions.
- This process requires complex cognitive abilities related to environmental sensing and information processing.
- The link between cognitive performance and thermoregulatory accuracy remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between spatial cognition and thermoregulatory efficiency in male common wall lizards.
- To assess the influence of personality traits (boldness, explorativeness, sociability) on thermoregulation.
- To understand how cognitive abilities and personality interact in exploiting thermal heterogeneity.
Main Methods:
- Assessed spatial cognitive abilities using two learning tasks.
- Quantified personality traits (boldness, explorativeness, sociability).
- Measured preferred body temperature in a thermal gradient and thermoregulatory performance (body temperature, heat source use) in a heterogeneous thermal environment.
Main Results:
- Lizards with superior spatial cognition utilized heat sources more dynamically and evenly.
- However, these individuals maintained lower body temperatures and exhibited less accurate thermoregulation.
- Personality traits influenced heat source proximity but not body temperature or accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Spatial cognition and personality may aid in exploiting environmental thermal variations.
- Enhanced spatial learning in lizards did not lead to more precise thermoregulation.
- The study highlights a complex interplay between cognition, personality, and thermoregulatory strategies in reptiles.
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