Anthropomorphic Bias

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 46 - 70

Published: Jan. 26, 2025

Abstract This chapter addresses the challenge of anthropomorphic bias: that humans, including researchers, have a bias towards explanations. Researchers on topics related to animal minds long worried such might lead science error. argues existing views and attempts control anthropomorphism in miss complexity problem. Anthropomorphism, sort field should be about, is an unconscious cognitive bias. Its effects are likely unpredictable multifarious. We need more research human psychology before we can confidently design ameliorative interventions. The presents some early at developing kind implicit measure help. In this chapter, main empirical example.

Language: Английский

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Sample Size and Generalizability

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 149 - 172

Published: Jan. 26, 2025

Abstract This chapter addresses the problem of sample size and its implications for generalizability experimental results. For several practical reasons, laboratory experiments involving animals are often severely limited in number individuals they can include. Given recent replication crisis other branches psychology, this feature field has been gaining more attention. focuses on related, but distinct, question whether results from using small samples be generalized to claims about a species overall. It uses work chimpanzee working memory as primary example. The suggests interpreting these studies some ways one would an experiment, case study or anecdotal report.

Language: Английский

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Ecological Validity

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 122 - 148

Published: Jan. 26, 2025

Abstract This chapter addresses the challenge of ecological validity: worry that unnaturalness laboratory experiments undermines them as sources evidence about animal minds. It takes a practical approach, recognizing worries can crosscut more formal concerns, including external validity, internal and integrating experimental work with observational fieldwork. Looking at on foraging in honeybees, it suggests approaches look across only generalize carefully structured collections results. Specifically, researchers design “anchoring experiments” which are related to wild behaviors closely possible, then vary those tasks different ways gain fuller understanding psychological processes involved.

Language: Английский

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Integration and Homology

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 95 - 121

Published: Jan. 26, 2025

Abstract This chapter addresses the challenge of integrating theory and results across disciplines working on animal minds. In particular, it underappreciated role that assumptions homology play in inferences integrate neuroscience evolutionary biology into comparative psychology. Two traits different species are homologous when they both descended from a single trait most recent common ancestor. Cross-species comparisons often based assumption under discussion homologous. Claims psychological capacities homologous, though, especially hard to establish. The discusses pitfalls such face, suggests some ways avoid them, calls for greater research establishment homologies can ground these integrative inferences. It work emotions rats cats as well chimpanzee mind-reading

Language: Английский

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Illustrations

Published: Jan. 26, 2025

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Seven Challenges for the Science of Animal Minds

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 23, 2025

Abstract The scientific study of animal minds is difficult. This book examines the most significant reasons this so: seven challenges for science to overcome. Researchers are aware these challenges, but few take any them head-on, and none address collectively as does. Despite focus on book’s orientation optimistic; science, not science. have made substantial progress things are. But taking head-on can help build an even stronger, more vibrant are: 1) underdetermination theory by data, 2) anthropomorphic bias, 3) modeling cognitive processes, 4) integrating across disciplines, 5) ecological validity, 6) small sample sizes, 7) measuring consciousness. For each, suggests rethinking challenge reorienting our attempts it. Each main chapters addresses one includes empirical case study, from social reasoning in chimpanzees consciousness octopuses. Along way, a big-picture framework emerges drawing conclusions about experimental evidence. In framework, role individual piece limited—any experiment, model, claim, or argument. We need holistically consider all evidence we get.

Language: Английский

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NSF Workshop Report: Exploring Measurements and Interpretations of Intelligent Behaviors Across Animal Model Systems

The Journal of Comparative Neurology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 533(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

Defining intelligence is a challenging and fraught task, but one that neuroscientists are repeatedly confronted with. A central goal of neuroscience to understand how phenomena like intelligent behaviors emerge from nervous systems. This requires some determination what defines measure it. The challenge multifaceted. For instance, as we begin describe the brain in increasingly specific physical terms (e.g., anatomy, cell types, activity patterns), amplify an ever-growing divide connect measurable properties less tangible concepts intelligence. As our appreciation for evolutionary diversity grows, further with whether there can be unifying theory National Science Foundation (NSF) NeuroNex consortium recently gathered experts multiple animal model systems discuss across species. We summarize here different perspectives offered by consortium, promoting thought debate this ancient question modern perspective, asking defining useful exercise or ill-posed distracting question. present data vantage points humans, macaques, ferrets, crows, octopuses, bees, flies, highlighting noteworthy capabilities each species within context species' ecological niche these may challenged climate change. also include remarkable example convergent evolution between primates crows circuit molecular basis working memory highly divergent

Language: Английский

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Learning from Octopuses: Cutting-Edge Developments and Future Directions

Biomimetics, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 10(4), P. 224 - 224

Published: April 4, 2025

This paper reviews the research progress of bionic soft robot technology learned from octopuses. The number related papers increased 760 in 2021 to 1170 2024 (Google Scholar query), with a growth rate 53.95% past five years. These studies mainly explore how humans can learn physiological characteristics octopuses for sensor design, actuator development, processor architecture optimization, and intelligent optimization algorithms. tentacle structure nervous system octopus have high flexibility distributed control capabilities, which is an important reference design robots. In terms technology, flexible strain sensors suction cup inspired by achieve accurate environmental perception interaction. Actuator uses muscle fibers movement patterns develop various driving methods, including pneumatic, hydraulic electric systems, greatly improves robot’s motion performance. addition, inspires multi-processor also introduces concept expected functional safety first time safe robots failure or unknown situations. Currently, there are more technologies that draw on octopuses, their application areas constantly expanding. future, further integration artificial intelligence materials science, show greater potential adapting complex environments, human–computer interaction, medical applications.

Language: Английский

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Tactical deception in cephalopods: a new framework for understanding cognition

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 1, 2025

Many animals rely on deception, including signalling misinformation, to gain advantages over others. While many deceptive strategies deterministic patterns or conditioning, some taxa can flexibly adapt their behaviour the identity, perspective, inferred goals of observer. These context-dependent could be considered 'tactical deception' if they higher-level cognitive processes execute. Here, we outline why cephalopods, such as octopus and cuttlefish, are ideal candidates explore link between deception cognition. As tactical relies understanding differences in one's own another observer's suggest a framework study aspects cognition other animals.

Language: Английский

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Growing Confidence and Remaining Uncertainty About Animal Consciousness

Qeios, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 3, 2024

While the study of consciousness has had a controversial history and, until recently, pessimistic prognosis, recent views within neuroscientific community suggest that maturing if incomplete scientific understanding is close at hand. The purpose this essay to specify major points on which in my opinion there widespread though not universal agreement, as proposed benchmarks for current state research across phylogenetic spectrum. Most published definitions boil down focus it process arising nervous system engaged with body and its environment, giving rise subjective (personal) experience. A broad consensus phenomenology sees consisting minimum (1) awareness_ _and focused attention, (2) unity perception, (3) qualitative variations content, (4) mental causation, (5) sense self. There also agreement substrate requires sizeable, complex systems organized into several hierarchical levels processing. Further insight gained by reconstructing evolution phenomenological experience ― most likely from multiple origins, hosted diversity brain architectures, diverging markedly different forms animal kingdom. However, three mysteries about remain unresolved are neurological correlates consciousness, apparent gap between mechanism, monitors activity admitted consciousness.

Language: Английский

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