Abstract
The traditional emphasis when measuring performance in
animal cognition has been overwhelmingly on accuracy,
independent of decision time. However, more recently,
it has become clear that tradeoffs exist between
decision speed and accuracy in many ecologically
relevant tasks, for example, prey and predator
detection and identification; pollinators choosing
between flower species; and spatial exploration
strategies. Obtaining high-quality information often
increases sampling time, especially under noisy
conditions. Here we discuss the mechanisms generating
such speed–accuracy tradeoffs, their implications for
animal decision making (including signalling,
communication and mate choice) and the significance of
differences in decision strategies among species,
populations and individuals. The ecological relevance
of such tradeoffs can be better understood by
considering the neuronal mechanisms underlying
decision-making processes.
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