
Animal Cognition & Learning
Fall Semester 2008 - Tufts University |
Instructors: Dr.
Robert Cook
Office: 106 Psychology Building
Office Hours: Monday 1:30-2:30
Lectures: Tuesday and Thursday 12:00-1:15
Classroom: Psychology Building - Room 109
This course examines the experimental analysis of cognition and
behavior in animals. Most of our discussions will focus on laboratory findings with
animals, but viewed from an evolutionary framework concerned with the natural histories
of animals and the mechanisms of behavior. In addition to discussing basic experimental results about cognition and intelligence
in animals, an important emphasis will be placed on the logic and evidence used to justify
any theoretical conclusions. Along with the standard lecture/discussion format used in this class,
we will be using the Exploring
the Animal Mind software and the Internet to further
explore and illuminate the course materials. The URL for the course is
http://www.pigeon.psy.tufts.edu/psych26/default.htm.
In exploring the provided links, use these color cues to
guide your
search:
|
 |
Required - Examine these links and their connections
(i.e., exam worthy) |
|
 |
Optional - highly suggested and worth more than a peek
|
|
 |
Not required - information on assorted topics
related to the course |

Required
Texts
Animal Learning and Cognition
(3rd
Edition)
John Pearce - Cardiff University
Avian
Visual Cognition
Robert Cook
Animal Spatial
Cognition
Michael Brown & Robert Cook
Selected Readings as provided or outlined in class.
List of
Course Handouts in PDF format
Links to other Animal Cognition Information

I.) Fundamental Issues in Animal
Cognition
Major topics for Weeks 1 through 3: Introduction to basic questions and issues in animal cognition,
history, logic, and research tactics,
intelligence and consciousness in animals,
the role of evolution and ecology in behavior and cognition,
procedures used in the study of animal cognition, the roots of motivation and action
Links to historical information related to animal cognition
Links to information about intelligence in animals
Readings
Pearce - Chapters 1, 14
Hollard & Delius - Mental Rotation in Pigeons
Comparative Analyses of
Learning
Speculations
on Language and Intelligence - by Dr. D. Dennett

II.) Stimulus Perception,
Control, & Selection
Major topics for weeks 3 through 7 include The nature and mechanisms of perception in animals,
the mechanisms underlying stimulus control, selection,
discrimination and categorization,
the mechanisms involved with how animals orient
space and time
Links to information related to
perception
Links to information about
stimulus control & selection
Links to information about the
processing of space, time, & number
Midterm on Thursday
Oct 16th
Readings
for the Exams
Pearce - Chapters 1,14, p 150-153
Hollard & Delius - Mental Rotation in Pigeons
Comparative Analyses of
Learning
Speculations
on Language and Intelligence - by Dr. D. Dennett
Visual Perception by
Dr. Robert Cook
(From Comparative Psychology: A handbook)
The exam will consist of short answer questions on related
themes, "quotable quotes", draw some typical results (this
will have a choice component) and then some multiple choice
questions. Most of the material will come from lecture and the
overlap between the book and lecture. A couple of book-specific
questions are included. I would quickly look over the direct links
in the website, especially in the history section which will be
helpful with the quotes. Also don't forget the PDF links above for
any missing handouts.
Pearce - Chapters 7,6,11 and 10
Visual Perception by
Dr. Robert Cook
(From Comparative Psychology: A handbook)
Link to Wright Matching Chapter
Link to Urcuioli Categorization Chapter
Link
to Downloadable Radial Maze Program
Link to runtime files that you might
need to install for the above program

III.) The Role of Experience, Learning, &
Memory
Major topics for weeks 8 through 12
include the effects of experience on animal behavior, the mechanisms of learning and memory for
the relations between different events, the basic laws and
mechanisms of association formation, the assessment of value and the function of reinforcement.
Links to information about classical
conditioning
Links to information about operant conditioning
Readings
-
Pearce - Chapters 2, 3, 4,
Additional readings to be announced

IV.) Advanced Cognition & Complex Behaviors
Major topics for weeks 13 through 14 include: Observational
and social learning, metacognition, theory of mind, foraging,
intra- and inter-species communication,
tool use by animals
Readings
Pearce - Chapters 12 &13
Additional readings to be announced
Final on Thursday,
December 11th
Readings
for the Exam
Pearce - Chapters 2, 3, 4, p 150-161, 7, 10, 11, p 312-324, 13
The exam will consist of short answer questions on related
themes, draw some typical results (this
will have a choice component similar to the first example) and then multiple choice
questions. There will be a larger number of multiple choice
questions on the final relative to the midterm. Most of the material will come from lecture and the
overlap between the book and lecture. Book-specific
questions are included, especially for testing those chapters that
we did not discuss in class. I would quickly look over the direct links
in the website, but put far less time into such an activity compared
to the lectures and readings. Also don't forget the PDF links above for
any missing handouts.

Grading
Grades are based on performance from two exams, term paper, and classroom
participation. Grading is based on a cumulative Z-score based scoring system
explained in class
MIDTERM (30%) - October 16th
FINAL EXAM (40%) - December 11th from 12:00 to 2:00 in
Psych Building
TERM PAPER (25%) Due Tuesday Dec.
16th 5:03 pm in my mailbox in the Psychology Building. Papers can
be submitted by email (Word and PDF documents only)
CLASS PARTICIPATION (5%)