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

Consistent 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.

诸多物种中均已发现个体在跨时间或跨情境下的行为存在稳定差异（即人格类型），且该差异与适合度（fitness）相关。同理，认知能力的个体差异也被证实会影响适合度。认知与人格均为复杂的多维度性状。然而既往研究通常仅针对单一人格特质与单一认知能力间的关联展开分析，所得结果模棱两可。人格与认知能力间的关联暗示行为性状存在协同演化，并凸显了二者间的微妙联系。本研究以41只圈养斑胸草雀（zebra finches）为对象，开展了多项人格测试与重复式问题解决测试（每项测试均用于评估创新表现），并评估了受试个体的6项行为性状：支配性、大胆性、活动性、冒险性、攻击性与固执性。受试雀的大胆性与固执性得分在两年观测期内保持稳定。此外，我们还分析了人格特质与重复问题解决测试中的任务表现是否存在关联。研究结果显示，新异恐惧症（neophobia）、支配性与固执性与任务成功解决存在关联；且支配性较弱、固执性较强的受试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试的重要性。未来若能在非模式生物（model organisms）中探明人格与创新能力间的关联，或可阐明这两类个体差异的协同演化机制。