PSYC 377 | Animal Cognition

Cognition is the many ways organisms take in information from their sensory systems, process it, and act upon it. There are many forms of cognition, and those forms look different from species to species based on the organism's evolutionary history. Through readings, discussions, and independent data collection, this seminar explores the history of the field of animal cognition, its scientific and philosophical controversies, common methods, as well as topics like consciousness, communication, tool use, and intelligence in nonhuman animals. In order to bring course material to life, students conduct observational and experimental studies of animal behavior in both lab and field settings, culminating in an independently proposed and conducted empirical study.