CHAPTER 9

ANIMAL COGNITION

Learning Phenomena

Nonassociative Associative/Cognitive

•Classical conditioning

•Instrumental conditioning

•Rule learning

•Social learning

•Habituation

•Short term

•Long term?

•Sensitization

•Short term

•Long term?

General Specific

•Human language

•Song learning

•Imprinting

A tentative classification of learning phenomena

Kohler’s problem solving experiments with chimps

Rule learning

•A cognitive form of learning.

•Initial learning based on associative knowledge may

eventually lead to a cognitive resolution based on

rules.

Early stages

Instrumental

conditioningRule development

Late stages

Tool use in fish (anvil) Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_MYQy_eeTQ&feature=youtu.be

Duration: 2:01 min

Tool use in birds (cars crushing nuts) Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGPGknpq3e0

Duration: 2:15 min

Tool use in birds

Egyptian vulture New Caledonian crows

Tool making in New Caledonian crows (video) Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtmLVP0HvDg

Duration: 0:40 min

Learning Phenomena

Nonassociative Associative/Cognitive

•Classical conditioning

•Instrumental conditioning

•Rule learning

•Social learning

•Habituation

•Short term

•Long term?

•Sensitization

•Short term

•Long term?

General Specific

•Human language

•Song learning

•Imprinting

A tentative classification of learning phenomena

Social learning

•Possibly associative at least in some aspects.

•Observing a response→outcome contingency in

another organism, usually a conspecific, or simply

copying a motor act observed in another organism.

Imitation in quail

Demonstrator Observer

Pecking

Stepping

Akins & Zentall, 1996, J Comp Psychol, 110, 316-320.

Imitation in quail: Results

Learning Phenomena

Nonassociative Associative/Cognitive

•Classical conditioning

•Instrumental conditioning

•Rule learning

•Social learning

•Habituation

•Short term

•Long term?

•Sensitization

•Short term

•Long term?

General Specific

•Human language

•Song learning

•Imprinting

A tentative classification of learning phenomena

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c8MMiytwNs&feature=player_embedded#at=74

Duration: 1:52 min

Language production in a dog Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmtG4XrtbHo

Duration: 1:29 min

Language comprehension in a dog Video

A bonobo named Kanzi has “spontaneously”

learned to understand spoken English and

(seen here) to use a computer keyboard to

made a variety of requests.

Primate cognition: “Spontaneous” language acquisition?

Primate cognition: Language training in a bonobo named Kanzi Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBUHWoFnuB4

Duration: 14:56 min

Primate cognition: The mirror test for self-recognition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaMylwohL14

Duration: 2:32 min

Video

Primate cognition: Social behavior and bonding in monkeys

Vervet monkeys signal the presence of aerial and

terrestrial predators with distinctive calls. Others react

appropriately, climbing up vs. down a tree.

Primate cognition: Communication with semantic content

Some chimpanzee cultures

practice group hunting of

monkeys.

Chimps engage in social interactions

while solving problems.

Primate cognition: Problem solving and sociality

Experiments on sign language in

chimpanzees may be

controversial. However, they have

demonstrated the skilled use of

hand movements (gestures) by

these animals. This contrasts with

their poor control of sound

modulation (as needed for

speech).

Primate cognition: Communication via gestures?

Use of gestures by

chimpanzees under

natural conditions.

Primate cognition: Communication via gestures?

This picture shows the simple stone

tool making kit used by Kanzi. He

produced these flakes to cut through

ropes that were used to tie shut

boxes of food.

Primate cognition: Tool making?