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Comparative Comparative ApproachApproach

Naturalistic observationNaturalistic observation: : Some animal behavior parallels Some animal behavior parallels human behavior (but is it the human behavior (but is it the same?)same?)

Field and laboratory Field and laboratory experimental testsexperimental tests: define the : define the extent of similarities and extent of similarities and differences in behavioral and differences in behavioral and cognitive abilities.cognitive abilities.

Converging operationsConverging operations – – Different lines of evidence are Different lines of evidence are considered (e.g., brain and considered (e.g., brain and behavior in different species)behavior in different species)

Spatial memory in humansSpatial memory in humans

Follow-up study comparing taxi drivers Follow-up study comparing taxi drivers with controls with controls

The size of the right posterior hippocampus was larger in taxi drivers

The volume of gray matter in the right posterior hippocampus was positively correlated with the amount of time spent learning to be and practicing as a licensed London taxi driver

Spatial memory in animalsSpatial memory in animals

The The Clark’s nutcrackerClark’s nutcracker caches caches thousands of pine nuts over thousands of pine nuts over hundreds of square miles and can hundreds of square miles and can retrieve 90% of the stored nuts retrieve 90% of the stored nuts despite seasonal changes in the despite seasonal changes in the landscape (local cues). landscape (local cues).

RatsRats can generate novel paths in a can generate novel paths in a maze in a single trial to obtain food maze in a single trial to obtain food when a well-learned path is blocked.when a well-learned path is blocked.

Other abilities in animalsOther abilities in animals

Insight learningInsight learning in Kohler’s chimps in Kohler’s chimps (or cumulative effect of trial and (or cumulative effect of trial and error learning)error learning)

Ravens can solve a novel task never Ravens can solve a novel task never before seen (pulling strings to get before seen (pulling strings to get food)food)

Tool useTool use in chimps and crows in chimps and crows Imitation learningImitation learning in orangutans and in orangutans and

dolphinsdolphins

Other abilities in animalsOther abilities in animals

Pigeons understand Pigeons understand conceptsconcepts (trees (trees versus a plant or Picasso versus versus a plant or Picasso versus Monet)Monet)

Comparison to college students…Comparison to college students…– Pigeons do not understand ‘equal to’ or Pigeons do not understand ‘equal to’ or

‘greater than’‘greater than’– Students do not get small versus large Students do not get small versus large

area of color (we search for greater area of color (we search for greater meaning).meaning).

Other abilities in animalsOther abilities in animals

CountingCounting – Alex (grey parrot) does it – Alex (grey parrot) does it perceptually not by counting but Sheba perceptually not by counting but Sheba the chimp can do it with abstract thought.the chimp can do it with abstract thought.

LanguageLanguage - Chickens and Meerkats have - Chickens and Meerkats have distinct calls but is it language?distinct calls but is it language?

DolphinsDolphins know 60 signs and can know 60 signs and can understand “understand “semantically reversible semantically reversible chainschains” (right water, left basket, fetch vs ” (right water, left basket, fetch vs left water, right basket, fetch); they know left water, right basket, fetch); they know that word order affects meaning.that word order affects meaning.

Similarities and differencesSimilarities and differences

McPhailMcPhail: some animals are clever but : some animals are clever but trial and error learning is the basis of trial and error learning is the basis of all animal learning, which is different all animal learning, which is different from humans.from humans.

GoodallGoodall: Large-brained animals that : Large-brained animals that live in complex social groups have live in complex social groups have similar intellectual abilities to similar intellectual abilities to humans.humans.