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Author Moses, S.N.; Villate, C.; Ryan, J.D.
Title (down) An investigation of learning strategy supporting transitive inference performance in humans compared to other species Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Neuropsychologia Abbreviated Journal Neuropsychologia
Volume 44 Issue 8 Pages 1370-1387
Keywords Adult; Analysis of Variance; Association Learning/*physiology; *Cognition; *Concept Formation; Female; Humans; *Logic; Male; Pattern Recognition, Visual/physiology; Photic Stimulation/methods; Reaction Time/physiology
Abstract Generalizations about neural function are often drawn from non-human animal models to human cognition, however, the assumption of cross-species conservation may sometimes be invalid. Humans may use different strategies mediated by alternative structures, or similar structures may operate differently within the context of the human brain. The transitive inference problem, considered a hallmark of logical reasoning, can be solved by non-human species via associative learning rather than logic. We tested whether humans use similar strategies to other species for transitive inference. Results are crucial for evaluating the validity of widely accepted assumptions of similar neural substrates underlying performance in humans and other animals. Here we show that successful transitive inference in humans is unrelated to use of associative learning strategies and is associated with ability to report the hierarchical relationship among stimuli. Our work stipulates that cross-species generalizations must be interpreted cautiously, since performance on the same task may be mediated by different strategies and/or neural systems.
Address Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, Canada. smoses@rotman-baycrest.on.ca
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0028-3932 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:16503340 Approved no
Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 153
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Author Pepperberg, I.M.; Brezinsky, M.V.
Title (down) Acquisition of a relative class concept by an African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus): discriminations based on relative size Type Journal Article
Year 1991 Publication Journal of Comparative Psychology Abbreviated Journal J Comp Psychol
Volume 105 Issue 3 Pages 286-294
Keywords Animals; Aptitude; *Concept Formation; *Discrimination Learning; Form Perception; Male; Mental Recall; *Parrots; *Size Perception; Vocalization, Animal
Abstract We report that an African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus), Alex, responds to stimuli on a relative basis. Previous laboratory studies with artificial stimuli (such as pure tones) suggest that birds make relational responses as a secondary strategy, only after they have acquired information about the absolute values of the stimuli. Alex, however, after learning to respond to a small set of exemplars on the basis of relative size, transferred this behavior to novel situations that did not provide specific information about the absolute values of the stimuli. He responded to vocal questions about which was the larger or smaller exemplar by vocally labeling its color or material, and he responded “none” if the exemplars did not differ in size. His overall accuracy was 78.7%.
Address Northwestern University
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Washington, D.C. : 1983 Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0735-7036 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:1935007 Approved yes
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 3610
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Author Parker, S.T.
Title (down) A general model for the adaptive function of self-knowledge in animals and humans Type Journal Article
Year 1997 Publication Consciousness and Cognition Abbreviated Journal Conscious Cogn
Volume 6 Issue 1 Pages 75-86
Keywords *Adaptation, Psychological; Animals; *Awareness; Concept Formation; Evolution; Humans; Phylogeny; *Self Concept; Species Specificity
Abstract This article offers a general definition of self-knowledge that embraces all forms and levels of self-knowledge in animals and humans. It is hypothesized that various levels of self-knowledge constitute an ordinal scale such that each species in a lineage displays the forms of self-knowledge found in related species as well as new forms it and its sister species may have evolved. Likewise, it is hypothesized that these various forms of levels of self-knowledge develop in the sequence in which they evolved. Finally, a general hypothesis for the functional significance of self-knowledge is proposed along with subhypotheses regarding the adaptive significance of various levels of self-knowledge in mammals including human and nonhuman primates. The general hypothesis is that self-knowledge serves as a standard for assessing the qualities of conspecifics compared to those of the self. Such assessment is crucial to deciding among alternative reproductive and subsistence strategies. The qualities that are assessed, which vary across taxa, range from the size and strength of the self to its mathematical or musical abilities. This so-called assessment model of self-knowledge is based on evolutionary biological models for social selection and the role of assessment in animal communication.
Address Anthropology Department, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California, USA. Parker@Sonoma.edu
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1053-8100 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:9170562 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4160
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Author Kuroshima, H.; Fujita, K.; Adachi, I.; Iwata, K.; Fuyuki, A.
Title (down) A Capuchin monkey (Cebus apella) recognizes when people do and do not know the location of food Type Journal Article
Year 2003 Publication Animal Cognition Abbreviated Journal Anim. Cogn.
Volume 6 Issue 4 Pages 283-291
Keywords Adaptation, Psychological; Animals; Cebus/*psychology; *Communication; Concept Formation; *Cues; *Discrimination Learning; Feeding Behavior/*psychology; Female; Intention; Male; Social Identification; Transfer (Psychology)
Abstract In a previous study, Kuroshima and colleagues demonstrated that capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) learned to discriminate between a “knower” who inspected a box for food, and a “guesser” who did not. The aim of the present study was to specify whether the subjects learned a simple conditional discrimination or a causal relationship that seeing leads to knowing. In experiment 1, we introduced five types of novel containers to two subjects. Each container was of different shape and color. The subjects gradually learned to reach toward the container the knower suggested. In experiment 2, we diversified the behavior of the knower and the guesser. In experiment 3, in order to eliminate the possibility of discrimination based on differences in the magnitude and the complexity of two trainers, we equated their behaviors. One subject adapted to the novel behaviors of the knower and the guesser, successfully discriminating the two trainers. Thus this monkey clearly learned to use the inspecting action of the knower and the non-inspecting action of the guesser as a discriminative cue to recognize the baited container. This result suggests that one capuchin monkey learned to recognize the relationship between seeing and knowing.
Address Graduate School of Letters, Department of Psychology, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo, 606-8501 Kyoto, Japan. kuroshi@psy.bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1435-9448 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:12905080 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2558
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