Animal Cognition
My Brief Description
In this course, we looked into different possible reasons for animal behaviors. Different types of languages, group behaviors, mathematical potential, and many other things were looked into. Different types of communications between different types of animals. A paper was required for this class. This paper was to pick a topic from class and animal of our choice to design an experiment that could be done.
UNE Course Description
“A major focus of this course will be on cognitive evolution in a variety of species, with specific attention to cognitive development in dolphins, whales, monkeys, apes, and humans. How do animals think without language as we know it? The fundamental principles and theories of learning and information processing in animals will be explored. The history, nature, and philosophical implications of cognitive science also will be explored, including attention to artificial intelligence.”
3 Key Things I Learned:
- There are 3 requirements that must be met in order for a behavior to be considered socially learned.
- The behavior is learned.
- The behavior is learned through social transmission.
- The behavior occurs when the “teacher” is not present.
- Some animals have self-awareness.
- Self-awareness is when there is recognition that one is a part of a social group, knows identities, social relationships (alpha), and sometimes mental states.
- There are 9 linguistic skills for animals.
- interchangeability
- specialization
- discreteness
- arbitrariness of units
- displacement
- semanticity
- duality of patterning
- productivity
- cultural transmission
Sample of Work
This is the paper that is mentioned in “My Brief Description”. I decided to look into how African lions use communication in their prides and with lone male lions. There are two types of communication vocals and body. When deciding on what I wanted to do for this semester paper I knew that I wanted to look into one of my favorite animals. At first I was going to wolves but in the previous semester that was the animal I chose so I wanted to mix it up. I was able to really use what was taught in class and gain more knowledge about my topic. This paper also allowed me to be able to design an experinment which really pushed me to think outside the box. I borrowed some ideas from some of the resources I found and then combined them with mine.
