Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: An inevitable consequence of aging is degeneration of the nervous system, which may result in cognitive deficits.For example, age-related deficits of spatial cognition in mammals has been linked to degeneration of the hippocampus, a structure of the mammalian brain that seems to be particularly compromised by aging.Because of the well-known role of the avian hippocampal formation (HF) in spatial cognition, the current study investigated the possible effects of age on spatial memory in homing pigeons (Columba livia).Young (1 -2 years of age) and old (10 -13 years of age) pigeons were tested on a spatial, delayed non-match-to-sample task in a modified 8-arm radial maze.Compared to the younger pigeons, older pigeons required more choices to complete the task and were less accurate with their first four choices.Additionally, older pigeons were more likely to adopt a stereotyped sampling strategy, which explained in part their impaired performance.These results suggest that birds, like mammals, experience age-related deficits of spatial working memory.
Author: Vincent J. Coppola
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Language: English
Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Rowan University
OpenAlex ID: W2616825180