Links between personality traits and problem-solving performance in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)

AbstractConsistent individual differences in behaviour across time or contexts (i.e., personality types) have been found in many species and have implications for fitness. Likewise, individual variation in cognitive abilities has been shown to impact fitness. Cognition and personality are complex, multidimensional traits. However, previous work has generally examined the connection between a single personality trait and a single cognitive ability, yielding equivocal results. Links between personality and cognitive ability suggest that behavioural traits coevolved and highlight their nuanced connections. Here we examined individuals’ performance on multiple personality tests and repeated problem-solving tests (each measuring innovative performance). We assessed behavioural traits (dominance, boldness, activity, risk-taking, aggressiveness, and obstinacy) in 41 captive zebra finches. Birds’ scores for boldness and obstinacy were consistent over two years. We also examined whether personality correlated with problem-solving performance on repeated tests. Our results indicate that neophobia, dominance, and obstinacy were related to successful solving, and less dominant, more obstinate birds solved the tasks quicker on average. Our results indicate the importance of examining multiple measures over a long period. Future work that identifies links between personality and innovation in non-model organisms may elucidate the coevolution of these two forms of individual differences.摘要：跨时间或情境下稳定存在的个体行为差异（即人格类型）已在众多物种中被发现，且与适合度（fitness）相关。同样，认知能力的个体差异已被证实会影响适合度。认知与人格均为复杂的多维度性状。然而，既往研究大多仅考察了单一人格特质与单一认知能力之间的关联，所得结果模棱两可。人格与认知能力之间的关联提示行为特质存在协同演化，并凸显了二者间的细微复杂联系。本研究以41只圈养斑胸草雀（zebra finches）为研究对象，让其完成多项人格测试与重复式问题解决测试（每项测试均用于衡量创新表现），并对个体的行为特质进行了评估，包括支配性、大胆性、活动性、冒险性、攻击性与固执性。实验两年间，斑胸草雀的大胆性与固执性得分均保持稳定。本研究同时考察了人格特质与重复问题解决测试中的表现是否存在关联。研究结果显示，恐新症（neophobia）、支配性与固执性均与任务成功解决存在关联，且支配性更低、固执性更强的斑胸草雀平均完成任务的速度更快。本研究结果凸显了长期开展多维度测量的重要性。未来若能在非模式生物中探明人格与创新能力之间的关联，或将有助于阐明这两类个体差异的协同演化机制。