The relationship of age and Columba livia risk-sensitive decision-making in a spatial memory task

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Cognitive Aging
• Avian Cognition

Background:

• Age-related cognitive decline is observed in various species, including potential changes in hippocampal function.
• Pigeons (Columba livia) serve as a model organism for studying cognitive processes and aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-related differences in decision-making under conditions of risk and reward variability in homing pigeons.
• To compare the choices of young and old pigeons when faced with options offering constant small rewards versus variable larger rewards.

Main Methods:

• Six young and six old homing pigeons were trained on an open-field task to locate food.
• Two conditions manipulated reward variability: a high-risk (75% chance of food) and a low-risk (25% chance of food) scenario.
• Behavioral choices between a risky, variable reward and a constant small reward were recorded.

Main Results:

• No significant age-related differences in error rates (choosing empty locations) were found.
• Older pigeons consistently preferred the small, constant reward, regardless of the condition.
• Young pigeons preferred the small, constant reward in the low-variability condition but chose the large, variable reward in the high-variability condition.

Conclusions:

• Older pigeons demonstrate a greater aversion to risk and deviate from rational decision-making compared to younger pigeons.
• Age influences the evaluation of risk and reward, suggesting potential changes in neural mechanisms within the avian brain.
• Further research is needed to understand the neural basis of age-related shifts in risk assessment.