A History of Dogs as Subjects in North American Experimental Psychological Research

by Erica N. Feuerbacher,
University of Florida

C. D. L. Wynne,
University of Florida and Kyung Hee University

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Abstract

The recent resurgence in psychological experiments involving dogs revives a long and rich tradition of using dogs as experimental subjects in psychology. Aside from a few very well known authors (e.g., Pavlov, and Scott and Fuller), this research is often overlooked. Here we trace the history of dogs as experimental subjects. A review of Darwin and Pavlov’s research sets the stage for our focus on research conducted in North American laboratories. We end our review with the advent of the modern renaissance of dog research. Our account of dog research illuminates the history of psychology as a science, providing insight into psychological processes and sheds light on the behavior of dogs specifically. A rediscovery of this literature can only improve future research: rejuvenating old questions, suggesting new problems, and highlighting useful methods for work on current issues

Keywords: history of psychology, dogs, Pavlovian conditioning, operant conditioning, animal cognition

Feuerbacher, E. N., & Wynne, C. D. L. (2011). A History of Dogs as Subjects in North American Experimental Psychological Research. Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews, 6, 46-71. Retrieved from http://comparative-cognition-and-behavior-reviews.org/ doi:10.3819/ccbr.2011.60001

Associative Learning in Insects: Evolutionary Models, Mushroom Bodies, and a Neuroscientific Conundrum

by Karen L. Hollis,
Mount Holyoke College

Lauren M. Guillette,
University of Alberta

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Abstract

Environmental predictability has for many years been posited to be a key variable in whether learning is expected to evolve in particular species, a claim revisited in two recent papers. However, amongst many researchers, especially neuroscientists, consensus is building for a very different view, namely that learning ability may be an emergent property of nervous systems and, thus, all animals with nervous systems should be able to learn. Here we explore these differing views, sample research on associative learning in insects, and review our own work demonstrating learning in larval antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), a highly unlikely insect candidate. We conclude by asserting that the capacity for associative learning is the default condition favored by neuroscientists: Whenever selection pressures favor evolution of nervous systems, the capacity for associative learning follows ipso facto. Nonetheless, to reconcile these disparate views, we suggest that (a) models for the evolution of learning may instead be models for conditions overriding behavioral plasticity; and, (b) costs of learning in insects may be, in fact, costs associated with more complex cognitive skills, skills that are just beginning to be discovered, rather than simple associative learning.

Keywords: insect learning, invertebrate learning, associative learning, insect behavior, antlions, Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae, sit-and-wait predation

Hollis, K. L., & Guillette, L. M. (2011). Associative Learning in Insects: Evolutionary Models, Mushroom Bodies, and a Neuroscientific Conundrum. Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews, 6, 25-46. Retrieved from http://comparative-cognition-and-behavior-reviews.org/ doi:10.3819/ccbr.2011.60004

Social Influences on Rat Spatial Choice

by Michael F. Brown,
Villanova University

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Abstract

Although there is abundant evidence for social learning and other forms of social influence on behavior, relatively little experimental analysis of the mechanisms involved is available. The present paper reviews a line of research examining social influences on spatial choice in the context of spatial working memory paradigms using pairs of laboratory rats foraging together for food. There is a social affiliation effect – rats are attracted to spatial locations if a familiar conspecific is there. However, there is a countervailing tendency to avoid visits to spatial locations that were previously depleted of food by the other rat. The latter effect is based on working memory for the choices made previously by the other rat. The memories for the previous choices of another rat can affect subsequent choices flexibly, either increasing or decreasing choice tendencies depending on working memory for the contents of spatial locations resulting from the rat’s own visits to the location.

Keywords: social memory, social learning, working memory, spatial memory

Brown, M. F. (2011). Social Influences on Rat Spatial Choice. Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews, 6, 5-23. Retrieved from http://comparative-cognition-and-behavior-reviews.org/ doi:10.3819/ccbr.2011.60003

Greetings from the New Editors of CCBR

by Christopher B. Sturdy,
University of Alberta

Thomas R. Zentall,
University of Kentucky

Abstract

After six years, Ron Weisman and Bob Cook have completed their term as Editors of the Comparative Cognition and Behavior Reviews (CCBR), an open access journal of the Comparative Cognition Society. CCBR publishes high quality, programmatic review articles covering current topics in comparative cognition. Tom Zentall and Chris Sturdy have been appointed the new editors of the journal. CCBR is published online once a year at http://psyc.queensu.ca/ccbr/.

Each volume of the CCBR consists of a series of articles, most of these have been solicited by the editors to represent cutting edge research in the field of comparative cognition. As the new editors, we plan to continue the excellent tradition established by Ron and Bob to publish the best reviews in the field of comparative cognition. We will also consider publishing high quality unsolicited manuscripts, that like solicited articles have been carefully reviewed by referees selected by the editors. If you are interested in submitting a review article, we would encourage you to send an outline of the article to the editors zentall@uky.edu or csturdy@ualberta.ca to get advice about whether the review would be appropriate for CCBR.

We also plan to encourage and actively recruit authors from related disciplines to consider submitting review paper proposals for consideration and possible publication in CCBR. In particular, we encourage researchers in related fields such as behavioral ecology and neuroscience to consider using our journal as an venue to synthesize major components of their research program, and also, to build bridges, both theoretical and practical, with comparative cognition and behavior researchers who investigate complementary research areas. In this way, we hope to expand and enrich the excellent journal Ron and Bob have established.

Sturdy, C. B., & Zentall, T.R. (2011). Welcome Editorial. Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews, 6, 4. Retrieved from http://comparative-cognition-and-behavior-reviews.org/ doi:10.3819/ccbr.2011.60005

Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews: the first six years

by Robert Cook,
Tufts University

Ron Weisman,
Queen’s University

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Abstract

We reflect on beginning the electronic journal, Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews (CCBR) and discuss its current status. We conclude that CCBR meets the continuing need for reviews of established bodies of knowledge about comparative cognition. It now attracts a over ten thousand viewers per year and several thousand downloads of its full articles. Also, CCBR is steadily increasing in citations. We are pleased to hand over stewardship of CCBR to the new editors: Chris Sturdy and Tom Zentall.

Keywords: e-journals, web-based publishing, comparative cognition, impact

Cook, R., & Weisman, R. G. (2011). Comparative Cognition & Reviews: The first six years. Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews, 6, 1-3. Retrieved from http://comparative-cognition-and-behavior-reviews.org/ doi:10.3819/ccbr.2011.60002