Meta-control in pigeons individual data

In situations where the two sides of the brain process contradicting information that leads to incompatible response options, the brain requires efficient conflict-solving mechanisms. Such conflicts can arise particularly in lateralized brains, in which the hemispheres differ in coding strategies or in focus of attention and hence, consider different information for decision-making. Meta-control, in which one hemisphere constantly dominates response selection independent from its processing competence, can be a mechanism, which minimizes interhemispheric interferences and ensures fast behavioral reactions. We therefore confronted pigeons with a task in which two stimulus classes were brought into conflict. In this situation, pigeons display individual meta-control despite equal categorization performances of both brain hemispheres. Thus, hemispheric dominance arises specifically in interhemispheric conflict situations. As a signature of the underlying neuronal mechanisms, analysis of re...