Animal Cognition and Learning

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%)