Comparative Methods in Cognitive Science

Question 1

What sorts of questions are asked in the top-down approach of comparative cognitive science?

Answer 1

All-or-nothing questions

Question 2

Instead of asking whether or not humans or other animals have certain cognitive abilities, what approach does the bottom-up approach take and why?

Answer 2

Asks questions regarding how a specific cognitive capacity works; complex cognitive capacities can often be broken down into components that humans share with many other species

Question 3

The mirror self-recognition test suggests that non-human animals have an indicator of what attribute previously thought to be exclusive to humans?

Answer 3

Self-awareness

Question 4

Is the mirror self-recognition test an example of a top-down approach or a bottom-up approach?

Answer 4

Top-down; it seeks to determine whether or not an animal or other organism exhibit self-awareness

Question 5

What is metacognition?

Answer 5

The awareness and understanding of one’s personal cognition

Question 6

Chimpanzees in studies have demonstrated abilities of which cognitive functions thought to be exclusive to humans?

Answer 6

1. Metacognition - chimpanzees knew that they knew the contents of boxes
2. Mind reading - chimpanzees theory of mind and represent goals and intentions of others

Question 7

Evidence of episodic ability in multiple species can be found through what terms?

Answer 7

When defined in terms of specific abilities; shown in primate families and scrub jays

Question 8

What are the two errors of attribution comparative cognitive scientists sometimes make?

Answer 8

1. Underattributing minds: disregarding and denying the experience, the suffering and joy
2. Overattributing minds: attribution of experiences and complex mental states to entities that do not have them

Question 9

How might we address the overattributing minds problem in comparative cognitive science?

Answer 9

Adopting the associative learning theory as a null hypothesis: associative learning should be regarded as the default for animalistic behaviour unless evidence demonstrates otherwise

Question 10

What is associative learning?

Answer 10

Classical conditioning; linking stimuli with a response

Question 11

What experiment in 1898 did Edward Thorndike perform to propose the Law of Effect and associative learning?

Answer 11

Thorndike’s Puzzle Box

Question 12

Dogs learning to “communicate” using buttons is an example of what issue in comparative cognitive science?

Answer 12

Overattribution