Are Reversal Learning and Inhibitory Control Related? Evidence From Urban Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus)

Abstract

Behavioral flexibility, the ability to adjust behavior in response to environmental changes, is crucial in extreme and novel urban environments. This study assessed behavioral flexibility in both immature (n = 11) and adult (n = 12) urban Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus). This is a generalist seabird highly associated with anthropogenic food resources, making it a valuable model to explore behavioral features that could promote this habit. We examined the relationship between a reversal learning task, which assessed the speed of acquisition and subsequent reversal of a stimulus–reward association, and a detour-reaching task, which tested inhibitory control by assessing the ability to suppress ineffective behaviors. The results showed no significant effect of age on either task. All individuals were able to control impulsive behaviors and reverse a previously acquired response. The reversal phase was more challenging than the acquisition phase, with individuals making more errors, especially regressive ones (i.e., inability to learn and maintain a new stimulus–reward association). Although the difference was not statistically significant, two clear patterns emerged: slower individuals during the acquisition made fewer errors and adapted more quickly during the reversal task and those who made more errors in the cylinder task also tended to make more errors in the reversal learning task. Our findings suggest that individuals learned a new color-reward association easier than they inhibited a previously learned response. This underscores the importance of inhibitory responses during the reversal phase. In conclusion, urban gulls exhibit notable cognitive abilities in adapting their behaviors and decision-making based on environmental cues, which could be crucial when exploiting diverse and dynamic food sources. Furthermore, behavioral flexibility was found to be independent of the age of the gulls. This may be because neophobia is low at all ages in this species; its effect is not strong enough to lead to a difference between adult and juvenile gulls.