Comparative Cognition in Biological and Learning Psychology

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the main focus of comparative cognition?

Comparing information processing across species (correct)
Studying human cognition only
Developing artificial intelligence
Understanding animal behavior in the wild

What is Theory of Mind?

The ability to attribute mental states to others (correct)
The ability to communicate with other animals
The ability to remember past events
The ability to solve complex problems

What is an example of future planning in animal cognition?

Building nests for shelter
Using tools to hunt for food
Migrating to find better resources
Dismantling a skylight to spend summer nights on a roof (correct)

What is a key requirement for sharing or concealing information from others?

Understanding that one's mental content is different from others (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a research topic in comparative cognition?

Problem-solving in primates (D) Signup and view all the answers

Who is the professor mentioned in the context of animal cognition?

Professor Frans de Waal (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of self-awareness in Theory of Mind?

Understanding that one is separate from other individuals (D) Signup and view all the answers

Who developed the mark and mirror test?

Gordon Gallop and Beulah Amsterdam (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about animal cognition?

Animals live in the present and don't have a future or past (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it challenging to design cognitive tests for marine mammals?

They don't have hands (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of alarm calls in vervet monkeys?

To warn other monkeys of predators (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common method used in playback experiments with vervet monkeys?

Replaying alarm calls from hidden speakers (C) Signup and view all the answers

Who conducted research on alarm calls in vervet monkeys?

Seyfarth, Cheney and Marler (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of cognitive tests for dolphins?

They involve cooperative tasks (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the mark and mirror test?

To examine the cognitive abilities of animals (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a challenge in designing cognitive tests for animals?

Accommodating the physical characteristics of the species (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of infant vocalization?

Improved vocalization with age and experience (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the separate calls made by vervet monkeys?

To alert other monkeys to predators (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the task set by Dr. Alex Taylor for a crow named 007?

An 8-step puzzle task to solve for a food reward (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the 'fairness' test conducted by Sarah F. Brosnan and Frans B.M. de Waal?

The first monkey got upset and refused to participate (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of the book written by Frans B.M. de Waal?

Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the echolocation visualization and interface system developed by Amundin et al.?

To study dolphin echolocation (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the journal where Amundin et al. published their research?

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the researcher who conducted the 'fairness' test with capuchin monkeys?

Sarah F. Brosnan (A) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards are hidden until you start studying

Study Notes

Comparative Cognition

Comparative cognition is the study of information processing across species, including humans.
Research topics in comparative cognition include: memory, categorization, decision-making, problem-solving, language use, and deception.

Theory of Mind

Theory of mind is the ability to attribute mental states to others, such as knowledge, intentions, and beliefs.
It requires self-awareness, understanding that one's own mental content is different from others.

Animal Cognition

Animals are capable of using tools to fix something for the future, such as orangutans using tools to access the roof of their enclosure.
Professor Frans de Waal's work highlights the importance of considering animal cognition and their ability to problem-solve.

Self-Awareness

The mark and mirror test is a classic test of self-awareness, developed by Gordon Gallop (1970) and Beulah Amsterdam (1972).
The test involves placing a mark on an animal's face or body and observing their behavior in response to their reflection in a mirror.

Dolphin Cognition

It is challenging to design cognitive tests for marine mammals like dolphins and whales due to their lack of hands.
Cognitive tests for dolphins include cooperative tasks and the mirror recognition test.

Vervet Monkey Alarm Calls

Vervet monkeys make alarm calls in the presence of predators to warn other monkeys nearby.
Researchers have used playback experiments to study the reactions of monkeys to different alarm calls, which serve as a primitive form of language.

Crow Problem-Solving

Dr. Alex Taylor set a crow named 007 an 8-step puzzle task to solve for a food reward, demonstrating the crow's problem-solving abilities.

Capuchin Monkey Fairness Test

Sarah F. Brosnan and Frans B. M. de Waal designed the 'fairness' or reciprocity test, which demonstrated capuchin monkeys' understanding of fairness and reciprocity.