Psychology 2210A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Neophobia, Animal Cognition, Hypothermia

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2210A/B
• Professor: Krista Macpherson

Document Summary

Ecosystems, environments, habitats change: seasonally, annually. Cognition is a phenotypic trait that can be measured. Often less focused on the mechanisms and looking at things on a bigger scale. Crossover between fields: biologist ignore psychologist, psychologists ignore biologist. Suggest harsh climates lead to higher cognitive function: multiple definitions of harsh", different populations: population of the same species, the populations which have harsh climate differ in the cognitive abilities compared to species not living in harsh conditions. In harsh climates, enhanced cognitive functions were selected for so these individuals survived and this cognitive ability was more prominent in the harsh climate: genetic components, ignore experiential effects. Cognition is a plastic response to the environment that you"re in. Objective: evaluate the role of winter temperature in shaping cognitive abilities. How are we doing it: 27 black-capped chickadees, divided into 3 treatments control remained outside. 6h they live outside but they have heaters at night.