Records |
Author |
Bennett, A.T. |
Title |
Do animals have cognitive maps? |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
1996 |
Publication |
The Journal of Experimental Biology |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Exp Biol |
Volume |
199 |
Issue |
Pt 1 |
Pages |
219-224 |
Keywords |
Animals; Cognition/*physiology; Humans; Space Perception/*physiology; Visual Pathways |
Abstract |
Drawing on studies of humans, rodents, birds and arthropods, I show that 'cognitive maps' have been used to describe a wide variety of spatial concepts. There are, however, two main definitions. One, sensu Tolman, O'Keefe and Nadel, is that a cognitive map is a powerful memory of landmarks which allows novel short-cutting to occur. The other, sensu Gallistel, is that a cognitive map is any representation of space held by an animal. Other definitions with quite different meanings are also summarised. I argue that no animal has been conclusively shown to have a cognitive map, sensu Tolman, O'Keefe and Nadel, because simpler explanations of the crucial novel short-cutting results are invariably possible. Owing to the repeated inability of experimenters to eliminate these simpler explanations over at least 15 years, and the confusion caused by the numerous contradictory definitions of a cognitive map, I argue that the cognitive map is no longer a useful hypothesis for elucidating the spatial behaviour of animals and that use of the term should be avoided. |
Address |
Department of Pure Mathematics, University of Adelaide, Australia |
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English |
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ISSN |
0022-0949 |
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PMID:8576693 |
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no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2756 |
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Author |
Etienne, A.S.; Maurer, R.; Seguinot, V. |
Title |
Path integration in mammals and its interaction with visual landmarks |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
1996 |
Publication |
The Journal of Experimental Biology |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Exp Biol |
Volume |
199 |
Issue |
Pt 1 |
Pages |
201-209 |
Keywords |
Animals; Cognition/physiology; Cricetinae; Gerbillinae; Humans; Locomotion/*physiology; Mammals/*physiology; Mesocricetus; Mice; Proprioception/physiology; Rats; Visual Pathways/*physiology; Visual Perception/*physiology |
Abstract |
During locomotion, mammals update their position with respect to a fixed point of reference, such as their point of departure, by processing inertial cues, proprioceptive feedback and stored motor commands generated during locomotion. This so-called path integration system (dead reckoning) allows the animal to return to its home, or to a familiar feeding place, even when external cues are absent or novel. However, without the use of external cues, the path integration process leads to rapid accumulation of errors involving both the direction and distance of the goal. Therefore, even nocturnal species such as hamsters and mice rely more on previously learned visual references than on the path integration system when the two types of information are in conflict. Recent studies investigate the extent to which path integration and familiar visual cues cooperate to optimize the navigational performance. |
Address |
Laboratoire d'Ethologie, FPSE, Universite de Geneve, Carouge, Switzerland |
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Place of Publication |
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Language |
English |
Summary Language |
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Original Title |
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Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0022-0949 |
ISBN |
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Medium |
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Area |
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Expedition |
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Conference |
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Notes |
PMID:8576691 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2758 |
Permanent link to this record |