Animal Cognitive Ecology

Basic course information

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Type: Special lecture series (Spezialvorlesung)

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Monday 18

Mondays 14:00 - 15:30

Thursdays 15:30 - 17:00

January 11th     

Written      

DE._2.133  

Dr. Tomer Czaczkes     

Prof. Dr. Konstanze Krüger

2 SWS

English       

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In this lecture series we will explore the advanced cognitive abilities of animals – how they learn, reason, think, and interact mentally with the world. The course focuses on assessing animal cognition via behavioural experimentation, and on understanding how animals use their cognitive abilities to adapt themselves to their ecological surroundings.

 

Some of the topics covered in the course include:

  • Memory and learning, including social learning

  • Perception, including sensory drugging and comparative psychology

  • Advanced cognition, including conceptual learning, metacognition, tool use, and self-awareness

  • Navigation and route learning

  • Collective cognition and group decision making

 

 Some of the topics covered are touched upon by the Ethology and Neurobiology lecture series, but no specific knowledge is expected or assumed.

The course, and the examination at the end, are in English.