PSYC 474: Animal Learning and Cognition

Course Description

Animal Intelligence involves the study of human and non-human animal behavior and cognition in an evolutionary and comparative framework. As an introduction to human and non-human animal cognition and though processes this course will examine topics such as problem-solving, spatial cognition, categorization, memory, number concepts, tool-use and tool-production, insight, imitation, social cognition, self-recognition and language(-like) behavior. In addition to discussing basic experimental findings about cognition in animals, an emphasis is placed on the logic and evidence used to justify theoretical conclusions. The course requires reading and critiquing original journal articles in addition to textbook chapters for foundational concepts.