Toolkit 4 - Animal Models

Question 1

How is human cognition similar to animals?

Answer 1

Share faculties like perception, attention, communication, social cognition, action cognition, memory and spatial cognition
Also share some extent reasoning and decision making

Question 2

How can we use animals as model organisms?

Answer 2

Form hypotheses about cognitive function
Make inferences about cognitive function
Study brain systems

Question 3

How can we study animal behaviour?

Answer 3

Observe behavioural analogues to our own behaviours in animals

Question 4

What are some examples of studying animals for cognition?

Answer 4

Tolman’s cognitive map (spatial navigation)

Vertical vs horizontal lines in kittens (perception)

Question 5

What brain functions can we look at in different species?

Answer 5

• localisation of function
• plasticity
• work division
• connectivity
• signal progression
• micro level neuronal behaviour
• general principles of brain functionality

Question 6

Which animals are most investagted and why?

Answer 6

Elephants, dolphins, songbirds, mice, seals, sea lions, bats

Because their language analogues are most likely to be similar to human language

Question 7

Why is sign language used as an analogue for animals?

Answer 7

Most animals cannot produce speech same sounds since their vocal tract has not evolved for human language

Sign language is used as an analogue since it solves the problem of vocal tract limitations but still has most properties of spoken language

Question 8

What properties of spoken language does sign language have?

Answer 8

• Signs are linearly produced
• Fixed relationship between sign & meaning
• Signs are discrete
• Signs can be infinitely combined
• Signs are rapid and fading
• Intent to communicate

Question 9

What is an example of animals learning human skills?

Answer 9

6 Baboons learned letter like pattern recognition and learned within 6 weeks to distinguish ‘words’ and ‘non-words’ in an artificial language created for them
Reading is based on pattern recognition, a skill that many animals evolved to master
Reading is not as advanced a skill as we thought

Question 10

What is an example of primates learning human language?

Answer 10

Washoe & Nim Chimpsky

Question 11

Describe the study of Washoe

Answer 11

Washoe was the first non-human to learn to communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) as part of a research experiment on animal language acquisition
Washoe learned approximately 350 signs of ASL and even produced some new combinations of words (e.g. ‘water bird’ when seeing a swan)
Learned some signs also without being instructed by observing her caretakers signing to each other
Washoe even started teaching her adoptive son Louis some signs and creatively signed to other chimpanzees capable of ASL
Showed empathy and adaptation to novice (human) ASL speakers

Question 12

Describe the study of Nim Chimpsky

Answer 12

Nim Chimpsky was a failed replication attempt of the Washoe project
Nim was brought up in a sterile laboratory setting, only learned 125 signs and never used them creatively, only pragmatically
This project heavily criticized the Washoe project.
The Nim Chimpsky project in turn has been heavily criticized that the laboratory upbringing & instruction failed to create a nurturing, motivating environment that negatively affected Nim’s intellectual abilities, similar to human children suffering from neglect.

Question 13

How are animal models used to research genetic and neural components of the human language faculty?

Answer 13

Some mammals such as bats, whales and elephants use complex and varied vocalisations that share some characteristics with human speech, e.g., the ability to learn vocalisations from other members of their social group.
These animal models can be useful to study language ability, evolutionary basis of language, and disordered language

Question 14

What is the model of songbirds for investigating language?

Answer 14

-genes linked to syntax & hierarchical processing of linear signals (song & speech)

• different dialects of the same species (indicates learning instead of innateness)

-candidate gene editing to test syntax and social components of gene contribution to communication

Question 14

What is the model of bats for investigating language?

Answer 14

• genes linked to signal decoding & social communication
• different communication modalities (complexity)
• candidate gene editing to test social components of gene contribution to communication

Question 15

What is the model of mice for investigating language?

Answer 15

• genes linked to vocal communication & organizing social interaction by vocal communication
• candidate gene editing to test social components of gene contribution to communication

Question 16

How are the animal models of songbirds, bats and mice?

Answer 16

These animal models are used to test acoustic, syntactic, and genetic aspects of communication systems & generational transmission (teaching vs learning to offspring over generations)

Question 17

What is the F0XP2 gene?

Answer 17

FOXP2 has been identified as a candidate gene for language function
It shows mutations in several speech and language disorders, including childhood apraxia (lack of tongue/lip/jaw motor control impairing speech)
Those gene mutations correlated with brain abnormalities in several brain areas where FOXP2 regulates neuron maturation, connectivity, and plasticity

Question 18

How is the FOXP2 gene related to mice?

Answer 18

Mice have an equivalent to the human FOXP2 gene and disruptions to this gene also lead to impairments in the learning of motor skills and sequencing of the ultrasonic vocalisations typical for mice communication
Studies in mice for carrying same mutations as found in humans.