Spacial Cognition Flashcards
What is the reason for humans larger brain according to the ecological brain hypotheses?
Evolution of larger brains is driven by the need to solve ecological problems, such as foraging for food, navigating complex environments and using tools. Cognitive abilities evolved to help animals survive in challenging nature settings.
What is the reason for humans larger brain according to the social brain hypotheses ?
Suggests that primate brains, evolved to handle complex social relationships rather than just environmental challenges. Larger brains help manage group dynamics, alliances, and cooperation, with cognitive limits
What is the role of spacial cognition?
Related to the acquisition organisation and use of spatial information from the external environment
plays vital role in the survival of animals (remembering food sources, recognising predators and navigating environments)
leads to adaptive decision making based on previously acquired information
Which brain area is connected to spacial cognition?
the hyppocampus encodes multisenory and spacial information and is considered vital for spacial navigation and processing
What cell types are vital for mental navigation?
Place and Grid Cells- specialized cells in the hippocampus
grid cells provide a general coordinate system to represent a new surrounding
place cells encode special place of interests used to navigate
What is spacial perception?
Spatial perception is the ability to perceive and understand spatial properties (distance movement, spatial relation)
What is the difference between egocentric and allocentric spacial representation?
Egocentric Spatial Representation- object location relating to perceivers position
Allocentric Spatial Representation - object location through its spatial relation to other objects
What are external influences on an individuals spacial capacities?
food amount, quality, preferences
What are internal influences on an individuals spacial capacities?
familiarity
age (decreased ability in young and elderly)
alleged sex difference (males prefer geometric, females relational descriptions) - hunter gatherer
alleged hormonal influence (testosterone improves spatial cognition, estrogen enhances verbal memory)
Explain the dispersion hypothesis ?
Dispersion Hypothesis:
Sex differences in spatial cognition due to different reproductive and survival challenges. In species where males need to disperse and navigate larger areas, they have better spatial navigation skills. Conversely, when females face these challenges they perform better.
What is the difference between small and large scale spaces?
Small- scale space
Defined as the area where the individual can observe multiple locations simultaneously from different locations or directions
Large- scale space
no immediate sight of all locations - need for mental map
What is the difference between navigation and orientation?
Navigation: process that allows a route to be identified and maintained based on the ability to plan and execute
Orientation: navigation of environment using innate sense of direction (Sun/ Star Compass, Magnetic field Compass, Olfactory Compass)
What is Dead reckoning/ path integration?
Process by which an animal keeps track of their position based on distance and direction traveled from a starting point, integrating sensory information over time to navigate back to that point without external cues.
What ability of navigation do place and grid cells relate to?
Landmark Use
ability to navigate and recognize and rely on specific objects or features of the environment for orientation. (use of geometry)
Mental Maps
Cognitive representation of the layout of an environment. Choose a path to a goal that has not been directly used before.
Name two types of mental maps?
Route Based Mental Map (Topology Map)
Using a series of reference points. Here they use to use the same route (lack of shortcuts)
Coordinate based mental Map (Euclidean Map)
Ability to recall a coordinate based mental map (ability to create and use (new) shortcuts, return to previous locations
