September 21, 2010 Slide 2 What is comparative cognition? What
is studied? What approaches are taken? Slide 3 Slide 4 Review from
last class American vs European approaches Species used: From
Shettleworth (2009), Behav Process. 80, 210-217 Slide 5 the
difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it
is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind Darwin, The Descent
of Man Slide 6 Slide 7 I am convinced that natural selection has
been the main, but not the exclusive means of modification (Darwin)
What exactly does main means entail? Is 51% of modification due to
natural selection? Is 98% of modification due to natural selection?
What traits or behaviours should be considered as adaptations?
Slide 8 E. O. Wilson, Sociobiology: The new synthesis, 1975
Evolution of social behaviours, humans and non- humans
adaptationist programme Identify trait/behaviour under selection
Determine how that trait/behaviour may have adaptive value
(environment of evolutionary adaptedness) Determine trade-offs for
sub-optimal traits (best compromise) Panglossian Slide 9 Its all in
our genes: biological determinism A Natural History of Rape
Evolutionary psychologists believe that the belly-button is an
adaptation for storing small berries on the long trek back to camp.
(Kurzban, 2002) Gould & Lewontin (1979) warn of going too far
with adaptationist thinking Are both sides fighting straw men?
Slide 10 spaces left over Architectural constraint By-product is
then exapted for current purpose (mosaics) Slide 11 BUT were
spandrels really the only option? Dennett argues that squinches or
corbels can also be used for dome ceilings San Marco was designed
to display mosiacs. Slide 12 Gould warned of the dangers and
fallacies (Gould 1997, p. 10750) of over-attributing adaptive
functions to traits that might not be adaptations, but the real
danger is to fail to consider functional hypotheses. Tonsils often
become infected and therefore are (or were) frequently removed by
surgery. Which scientific response do you prefer?: (1) Mock any
suggestion that tonsils might serve an important function by loudly
insisting that not all traits have adaptive functions; or (2)
generate and test as many functional hypotheses as you can think of
to make sure that by removing the tonsils no lasting harm is done
to the patient? Hagen, Controversies surrounding evolutionary
psychology Slide 13 Slide 14 Comparative cognition is: A comparison
of mental abilities of species Cognitive abilities and capacities
e.g. capacities: Alex the Grey ParrotAlex the Grey Parrot Slide 15
Why is animal behaviour studied in psych department, not zoology? 4
main reasons: Uniqueness Control & irreversible effects
Simplicity & generality Continuity Slide 16 Certain animals
have unique properties that allow us to study subjects which could
not be studied any other way: Mice and genes Giant Squid Axons High
pecking rates of pigeons Echolocation in bats Absolute pitch in
songbirds Slide 17 For practical and ethical reasons, we can have
greater control in animals over both: Genes Environments
Irreversible Effects: Drugs, lesions, gene manipulations Slide 18
Insights from Model Systems Mendel studied peas Impact on study of
schizophrenia Generality of principles Building blocks of cognition
Slide 19 Neurobiological continuity e.g. Hippocampal lesions in
mice and men Evolutionary continuity Divergent and convergent
evolution Analagous vs homologous traits Slide 20 Time
HumansRatsMicePigeons Slide 21 Time HumansRatsMicePigeons Slide 22
Slide 23 3 main areas: Basic processes Physical cognition Social
cognition Slide 24 Includes: Perception Attention Memory
Associative leaning Category and concept learning Slide 25
Includes: Time Number Space Tool Use Causal understanding Slide 26
Includes: Social networks Dominance structures Social Relationships
Morality and ethics Theory of Mind Social learning Observational
learning Imitation Communication & Language Slide 27 Slide 28
How is information acquired or learned? How is information
processed? How is information retained? Slide 29 Types of Studies 4
approaches to studying animal behaviour: Naturalistic Observation
(Ethological) Field Experiments Behavioural Experiments Behavioural
Neuroscience (Physiological) Slide 30 Named for ethologist Niko
Tinbergen Proximate (How) vs Ultimate (Why) Slide 31 Causation:
Brain e.g. Brocas area Hormones e.g. Testosterone stimulates
aggressive behaviour Pheremones e.g. Spatial behaviour, tracking
Development or Ontogeny Nature/Nurture genes and environment
Critical periods e.g. language or imprinting Slide 32 Function or
Adaptation How has an organism evolved for survival? e.g. Birds fly
south for warmth & food e.g. Mammal nurture young Phylogeny
Evolutionary explanations, other than adaptation e.g. Genetic
drift
