DOI: 10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwtdn
title: Geographic differences in individual recognition linked with social but not nonsocial cognition

description: Cognition is a complex trait with multiple components that may vary
 independently or in concert. Thus far, we know little about how geographic
 differences in behavior are linked with different aspects of cognition.
 Behavioral differences could be linked with cognition in three ways: with
 multiple aspects of cognition, some but not other aspects of cognition, or
 no cognitive differences. Here, we compare cognitive performance in two
 populations of Polistes fuscatus wasps that differ in their capacity for
 individual face recognition. Individual recognition involves keeping track
 of multiple individual relationships and responding appropriately, so it
 is thought to increase social complexity. As a result, we predicted
 Michigan wasps that use individual recognition may have better cognitive
 performance than Pennsylvania wasps that are not able to individually
 recognize conspecifics. We find that Michigan wasps are more adept at
 individual face learning than Pennsylvania wasps. However, the populations
 perform similarly on other cognitive tasks, including color learning and
 memory, reversal learning, and odor learning and memory. Therefore,
 population differences in social behavior affect individual face learning,
 but are not linked with generalized differences in cognition. These
 findings suggest that socially complex societies may influence the
 evolution of social cognition specifically. 
description: # Geographic differences in individual recognition linked with social but
 not nonsocial cognition Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwtdn](10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwtdn) ## Description of the
 data and file structure Paper wasps foundresses and their nests from
 Michigan, USA and Pennsylvania, USA were collected in June 2022 and 2023.
 They were brought back to the lab and reared in a growth chamber. Workers
 were individually marked as they emerged. Upon reaching maturity, workers
 were tested on either individual face learning, odor learning and memory,
 or initial color learning, memory, and reversal. These data were analyzed
 in R. ### Files and variables #### File: MIPA\_Data\_Long\_20250220.csv
 **Description:** The dataset used for the main manuscript and includes all
 the variables analyzed. Missing values are indicated by an NA. #####
 Variables * Population: The population from which the wasp belonged
 (Michigan [MI] or Pennsylvania [PA]) * WaspID: The individual identifier
 for each wasp. * TestType: The type of cognitive test measured (individual
 face learning, odor learning, odor memory, initial color learning, color
 memory, or color reversal) * TrialNumber: Each cognitive test had ten
 trials so this variable denotes which trial number the response belongs
 to. * Response: This denotes whether the wasp chose correctly (1) or
 incorrectly (0) for that trial. * Year: This denotes which year this
 testing occurred in (2022 or 2023). * NestID: This denotes which nest the
 wasp belonged to. * Age: This denotes how old the wasp was at the age of
 testing. Unit of measurement = days. #### File:
 MIPA\_Data\_Long\_Sup\_20250224.csv **Description:** The dataset used for
 the supplemental information and includes all the variables analyzed.
 Missing values are indicated by an NA. ##### Variables * Population: The
 population from which the wasp belonged (Michigan [MI] or Pennsylvania
 [PA]) * WaspID: The individual identifier for each wasp. * TestType: The
 type of cognitive test measured (individual face learning, odor learning,
 odor memory, initial color learning, color memory, or color reversal) *
 TrialNumber: Each cognitive test had ten trials so this variable denotes
 which trial number the response belongs to. * Response: This denotes
 whether the wasp chose correctly (1) or incorrectly (0) for that trial. *
 Year: This denotes which year this testing occurred in (2022 or 2023). *
 NestID: This denotes which nest the wasp belonged to. * Age: This denotes
 how old the wasp was at the age of testing.Unit of measurement = days.