Bird Brains and Monkey Business

Can a parrot learn in a social setting? Do apes have culture or moral agency? Although human cognitive processes are in many ways unique and remarkable, nonhuman animals are capable of complex mental behaviors. A fundamental question asked throughout this course is whether human cognitive behaviors are qualitatively different from those observed in animals or whether there is continuity between the mental behavior of other species and humans. Students will learn to think critically about which questions can be answered and how to formulate hypotheses, develop skills in methods and experimental construction, and use logic and evidence to interpret data and justify the various conclusions from the literature.