Teaching Responsibility

LJMU Schools involved in Delivery:

Biological and Environmental Sciences

Learning Methods

Lecture

Practical

Seminar

Workshop

Module Offerings

6208NATSCI-JAN-CTY

Aims

1) to integrate behaviour, physiology and animal psychology in the study of animal learning and cognition. 2) to interpret animal learning from an ecological and evolutionary perspective.

Learning Outcomes

1.
critically discuss behavioural, physiological and genetic processes involved in animal learning and cognition
2.
compare differences in animal learning between species within the wider context of the ecology and evolution
3.
demonstrate skills in experimental design, execution, analysis and interpretation in relation to animal learning
4.
critically assess published experimental work on animal learning and cognition and interpret the studies in the context of general concepts in learning and cognition

Module Content

Outline Syllabus:Evolution and genetics of animal learning. The neurophysiological basis of learning. Different types of spatial and social learning. Evolution of memory under different ecological conditions. Complex associations, constraints and biases. Discrimination and classification. Theory of mind and social cognition. Insight learning. Personality traits and cognition.
Module Overview:
This module enables you to investigate learning and cognition in animals and link these abilities to the ecological and social environment of an individual and species. Animal learning and cognition is discussed with respect to current (proximate factors) and evolutionary conditions (ultimate factors).
Additional Information:This module investigates learning and cognition in animals and links these abilities to the ecological and social environment of an individual and species. Animal learning and cognition is discussed with respect to current (proximate factors) and evolutionary conditions (ultimate factors).

Assessments

Report

Presentation