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Authors & Affiliations
Robert Willma
Abstract
Enacted cognition encompasses the view that humans are able to utilize their body as well as interactions and manipulations of the environment as part of their cognitive system. The usage of enacted strategies in working memory contexts allows us to achieve better results. Here it has been investigated whether animals are also able to support their working memory with behavioral strategies or show working memory processes in their behavior. Pigeons were tested in Skinner boxes and presented with various stimuli on a key located in the center that had to be answered with one of two choices. In the first experiment, pigeons chose spatially between a left and right key. In the second experiment, the correct answer was confirmed by pecking on either a blue or yellow key to avoid spatial memory and motor preparation effects.The pigeons pecked during the stimulus presentation and a subsequent delay on the center key. They showed different pecking patterns, depending on their upcoming choice. In the first spatial experiment, pecking on the left side of the center key was predictive of an upcoming choice on the left key. Pecking on the right side predicted right choices. For the second non-spatial experiment, individual pecking patterns were found. Here, pecking on a specific location was also predictive of an upcoming choice that was not associated with one side. Constant pecking was not required by the experiment but still shown by the pigeons. Thus pigeons possibly showed a sign of enacted cognition in animals.