Social cognition— shaped by Social Complexity or Coercion? A test with socially complex fish

How savvy we are in responding to social cues is often determined by prior social experiences. But what kind of experiences shape our social cognition the most? Using a fish species with unique social attributes, we test two competing theories for the development of social cognition (complex vs costly social interactions). Our research enables us to identify the social factors that contribute to the development of adult behavior, cognitive abilities, and the forces that shape the circuitry of the vertebrate brain.