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Do animals have cognitive maps?

A T Bennett1

  • 1Department of Pure Mathematics, University of Adelaide, Australia.

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|January 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The concept of cognitive maps in animals is critically re-examined. Evidence suggests simpler explanations exist for spatial behaviors, challenging the utility of the cognitive map hypothesis.

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Area of Science:

  • Comparative psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Animal behavior

Background:

  • The term 'cognitive map' is used for diverse spatial concepts across species.
  • Two primary definitions exist: a landmark-based memory for navigation (Tolman, O'Keefe, Nadel) and any spatial representation (Gallistel).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the hypothesis of cognitive maps in animal spatial behavior.
  • To address the ambiguity and contradictory definitions surrounding the cognitive map concept.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on animal spatial cognition.
  • Analysis of experimental evidence, particularly regarding novel short-cutting behaviors.
  • Comparison of the 'cognitive map' hypothesis with alternative, simpler explanations.

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Main Results:

  • No animal has been conclusively demonstrated to possess a cognitive map (sensu Tolman, O'Keefe, Nadel).
  • Simpler explanations, such as landmark-based navigation, consistently account for observed spatial behaviors.
  • Experimental attempts to rule out simpler explanations have been unsuccessful for over 15 years.

Conclusions:

  • The cognitive map hypothesis, as commonly defined, is not a useful framework for understanding animal spatial behavior.
  • The term 'cognitive map' should be avoided due to definitional ambiguity and lack of conclusive evidence.
  • Further research should focus on alternative explanations for complex spatial navigation in animals.