Module 6: Animal Cognition

• novel object recognition task:

  • widely used in vertebrates to study memory
  • evaluates difference in amount of time animal explores novel object compared to familiar object
• how does novel object recognition test memory?

  remembering familiar object and recognizing new one
• what results can novel object recognition show?

  • influence of different brain regions in process of recognition
  • can study different drugs and their effects on memory
• what have learning studies in cephalapods shown?

  ability to solve puzzles
• what have emotion studies in cephalopods shown?

  aggression towards others and bonding
• cephalapods have shown the ability to recognize other octopus and people and consider familiars
• what other species have shown learning?

  insects, crustaceans, arachnids, and vertebrates
• how is recognition evolutionary convergence?

  different nervous systems but shared capacity of recognition and memory storage
• what did the ontology study in octopus show?

  • juvenile and adult octopuses can differentiate new objects but babies can't
  • older octopus don't need tactile exploration, only visual to recognize familiar objects
• methods of ontology study in octopus:

  • habituation in area with familiar objects
  • familiarization with 2 novel objects
  • test with 1 novel object and 1 previously novel object
• how did adults mainly explore novel objects?

  visually
• juveniles used more tactile exploration than adults
• how did babies react to novel objects?

  did not show tactile learning, would move object away
• why did babies show a better evolutionary approach?

  haven't learned how to determine if new objects are harmful
• ethical considerations in octopus study:

  • shown octopus with high stress reject food
  • fed at end of each day, can't move on if reject food
• swine ranking positions are defined by aggression
• aggressive behavior increases anxiety and physiological stress in swine group
• why does aggressive behavior cause social uncertainty?

  group members worry rankings are being tested
• social intelligence hypothesis: social cognition in vertebrate groups is developed in response to structural complexity of group and individual challenges of social living
• what is the main challenge for group living animals?

  managing conflict over resources
• what is conflict resolution in social animals?


  providing or seeking consolation, improved cohabitation and reduced stress
• methods of conflict resolution:

  1. reconciliation
  2. triadic solicited contact
  3. triadic unsolicited contact
• reconciliation: between aggressor and victim
• triadic solicited contact: victim seeks 3rd party (consolation)
• triadic unsolicited contact: 3rd party offers consolation
• post-conflict resolution is required to reduce anxiety in group
• social cognition hypothesis: unsolicited contact involves further cognition, learning to work within a group
• choice to get involved in conflict is processed in different part of the brain