Lecture 4 Flashcards
(17 cards)
Which animals show object permanence?
Apes, dogs, cats, birds (parrots, corvids, jays, chicks).
What experiment demonstrated object permanence in chicks?
Vallortigara et al. (1998) showed that chicks search for their ‘Beloved’ when she goes out of sight, even when young.
Why do dolphins struggle with invisible displacement?
Dolphins use echolocation to track objects, so they don’t need to infer hidden movements. (Jaakkola et al., 2009)
What are key challenges in navigation?
- Finding food, water, and mates
- Returning home
- Avoiding enemy territory
- Seasonal migration
- Navigating unfamiliar terrain
What are five common strategies animals use to navigate?
- Sun-based navigation
- Magnetic cues
- Path integration (dead reckoning)
- Landmarks
- Geometry of terrain
What is path integration?
A process where animals keep track of their movements to calculate the shortest path back home.
How do desert ants navigate back to their nests?
- Track last known position
- Measure direction changes (using celestial compass)
- Count distance traveled (using a mental pedometer)
How do ants determine direction changes?
Using a celestial compass that tracks the sun’s predictable movement. (Wehner & Lanfranconi, 1981)
How do ants measure distance traveled?
Using a mental pedometer (counting footsteps).
* Longer legs (stilts): Overshoot nest
* Shorter legs (stumps): Undershoot nest
(Wittlinger et al., 2006)
What makes a good landmark?
- Large
- Close to destination
- 3D (not flat)
- Immobile
What species use landmarks for navigation?
Almost all animals, including birds, mammals, and fish.
What is the role of geometry in navigation?
Many animals use the shape of their surroundings to orient themselves, even without landmarks.
How do young children use geometry for navigation?
- In an all-white room, toddlers rely only on geometry to reorient themselves.
- They struggle to use landmarks until about 5-6 years old.
(Hermer & Spelke, 1994)
What happens when a big red wall is added as a landmark in a room?
Some toddlers begin using landmarks instead of relying solely on geometric cues.
How does language help humans navigate?
- Language allows combining geometric cues with landmarks (e.g., ‘left corner of the red wall’).
- Success in navigation correlates with the ability to produce spatial phrases like ‘to the left of.’
Do animals prefer geometric cues or landmarks?
- Most animals prefer geometric cues and learn them faster.
- Rats, ants, and fish use geometry first in a new environment.
Can fish navigate using geometric cues without prior experience?
Yes! Fish raised in no-geometry environments still used geometric cues when tested. (Brown et al., 2007)
