january 12, 2010. what is comparative cognition? what is studied? what approaches are taken?
TRANSCRIPT
January 12, 2010
What is comparative cognition?
What is studied?
What approaches are taken?
Darwin:•“the difference in mind between man
and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind”
Comparative cognition is:• A comparison of mental abilities of species• Cognitive abilities and capabilities
e.g. capabilities: Alex the Grey Parrot
Review from last class• American vs European approaches
Species used:
From Shettleworth (2009), Behav Process. 80, 210-217
Why is animal behaviour studied in psych department, not zoology?
4 main reasons:• Uniqueness• Control & irreversible effects • Simplicity & generality• Continuity
Certain animals have unique properties that allow us to study subjects which could not be studied any other way:• Mice and genes• Giant Squid Axons• High pecking rates of pigeons• Echolocation in bats• Absolute pitch in songbirds
For practical and ethical reasons, we can have greater control in animals over both:• Genes• Environments
Irreversible Effects:• Drugs, lesions, gene manipulations
Insights from Model Systems• Mendel studied peas• Impact on study of schizophrenia
Generality of principles• Building blocks of cognition
Neurobiological continuity• e.g. Hippocampal lesions in mice and men
Evolutionary continuity• Divergent and convergent evolution• Analagous vs homologous traits
Tim
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HumansRatsMicePigeons
Tim
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HumansRatsMicePigeons
3 main areas:
• Basic processes
• Physical cognition
• Social cognition
Includes:• Perception• Attention• Memory• Associative leaning• Category and concept learning
Includes:• Time• Space• Number• Tool Use• Causal understanding
Includes:• Social networks
Dominance structures Social Relationships Morality and ethics
• Theory of Mind• Social learning
Observational learning Imitation
• Communication & Language
How is information acquired or learned?
How is information processed?
How is information retained?
Types of Studies 4 approaches to studying animal
behaviour:• Naturalistic Observation (Ethological)• Field Experiments• Behavioural Experiments• Behavioural Neuroscience (Physiological)
Named for ethologist Niko Tinbergen
Proximate (How) vs Ultimate (Why)
Causation: • Brain – e.g. Broca’s area• Hormones – e.g. Testosterone stimulates
aggressive behaviour• Pheremones – e.g. Spatial behaviour,
tracking Development or Ontogeny
• Nature/Nurture – genes and environment• Critical periods – e.g. language or imprinting
Function or Adaptation• How has an organism evolved for survival?• e.g. Birds fly south for warmth & food• e.g. Mammal nurture young
Phylogeny• Evolutionary explanations, other than
adaptation• e.g. Genetic drift