title: Social cognition in fishes.
abstract: Brain evolution has often been correlated with the cognitive demands of social life. Further progress depends on our ability to link cognitive processes to corresponding brain part sizes and structures, and, ultimately, to demonstrate causality. Recent research suggests that fishes are suitable to test general hypotheses about vertebrate social cognition and its evolution: brain structure and physiology are rather conserved among vertebrates, and fish are able to perform complex decisions in social context. Here, we outline the opportunities for experimentation and comparative studies using fish as model systems, as well as some current shortcomings in fish social cognition research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Electronic address: redouan.bshary@unine.ch.
authors.forename: Redouan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bshary
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gingins
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.
authors.forename: Alexander L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Vail
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003657:Decision Making; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: behavior; brain; ecological approach; fish; physiology; social cognition