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Disentangling learning from knowing: Does associative learning ability underlie performances on cognitive test batteries?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 August 2017

Jayden O. van Horik  and
Stephen E. G. Lea
Jayden O. van Horik
Affiliation:
Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Washington Singer Laboratories, Department of Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, United [email protected]@exeter.ac.ukwww.jayden-van-horik.blogspot.co.ukhttp://people.exeter.ac.uk/SEGLea/
Stephen E. G. Lea
Affiliation:
Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Washington Singer Laboratories, Department of Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, United [email protected]@exeter.ac.ukwww.jayden-van-horik.blogspot.co.ukhttp://people.exeter.ac.uk/SEGLea/
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Abstract

Are the mechanisms underlying variations in the performance of animals on cognitive test batteries analogous to those of humans? Differences might result from procedural inconsistencies in test battery design, but also from differences in how animals and humans solve cognitive problems. We suggest differentiating associative-based (learning) from rule-based (knowing) tasks to further our understanding of cognitive evolution across species.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 40 , 2017 , e220
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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