"Lying" in the pigeon.

Area of Science:

• Comparative psychology
• Animal cognition
• Symbolic communication

Background:

• Understanding the evolution of deception requires studying its simpler forms in non-human animals.
• Symbolic communication systems offer a unique window into cognitive processes like information manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the emergence of "lying" behavior in pigeons using a symbolic communication task.
• To examine how differential reinforcement influences the accuracy of information conveyed through symbols.

Main Methods:

• Two pigeons were trained to associate specific symbols with colors.
• A differential reinforcement schedule was implemented, rewarding reports of "red" more than other colors.
• The pigeons' symbol usage was recorded to analyze their reporting behavior.

Main Results:

• Both pigeons exhibited a period of "lying," where they inaccurately reported other colors as "red."
• This deceptive behavior correlated with the increased reinforcement for reporting red.
• The pigeons eventually adjusted their reporting behavior.

Conclusions:

• Pigeons can learn to use symbols to convey information, even in ways that are not veridical.
• Differential reinforcement can shape communicative acts, potentially leading to deceptive-like behaviors.
• This study provides insights into the basic mechanisms underlying deception in animal communication.