MMB8043 : Comparative Cognition: Information Processing in Humans and Other Animals
- Offered for Year: 2021/22
- Module Leader(s): Dr John Skelhorn
- Lecturer: Dr Vivek Nityananda, Professor Candy Rowe, Professor Christopher Petkov
- Owning School: FMS Graduate School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
Humans are often believed to be unique among animals in their cognitive abilities. However, these abilities did not arise de novo, but evolved in our lineage under specific selective pressures. This means that other animals which are either closely related to us or have undergone similar selective pressures will have evolved similar cognitive abilities. In this module, the students will explore how different humans really are from other animals in our cognitive abilities, and how cognition can be studied in non-human animals.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module will cover a number of topics in comparative cognition, taught by experts in the respective fields. These will include:
Learning and memory
Mental time travel
Numerosity
Spatial cognition
Language and communication
Concept formation
Teaching Methods
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | Preparation for the in-course poster and oral presentation |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | Preparation for the online exam |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Non-synchronous: Online lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Present in person (PIP): Seminars |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Present in person (PIP): oral presentation of posters |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 78:00 | 78:00 | Reading around the topic |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The main teaching method is the interactive seminar, in which the students need to engage with the questions and come up with their own solutions to the problems posed, interspersed with online lecturing that covers what has been done in the past. This mix of approaches will allow the students to develop the skills to design their own comparative cognition studies and to start thinking about cognition in its comparative and evolutionary context.
Should public health circumstances dictate that it is necessary, in person sessions will be moved to online alternatives.
Assessment Methods
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 60 | 1 | A | 60 | Online 24 hour take home exam: Choice of 1 from 3 questions (2000 words) |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | M | 40 | Design of a study in a novel species, presented as an oral conference presentation (Present in person). Length 10 minutes. |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poster | 1 | M | Design a study in a novel species, presented as a conference poster. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The in-course research proposal assessment is aimed at practising and getting feedback on the skill of designing experiments in comparative cognition; as well as the skill of scientific communication. The students will pick one from a list of topics, all aimed at testing a particular cognitive skill in a new species. They will present their design as a conference poster and oral presentation. These will be presented as if the study had really been conducted. Having formative assessment of the poster allows the students to learn from the feedback on their experimental design and hence really improve their skills and the content of the summatively assessed oral presentation.
The online exam will test the ability to think about cognition in a comparative and evolutionary context, and will ask broad questions about the implications of findings in comparative cognition for our understanding of concepts like evolution, consciousness, human uniqueness, etc.
The student will be given formative feedback on the conference poster to allow improvement of the experimental design, before presenting the experiment in the summatively-assessed oral presentation.
Should public health circumstances dictate that it is necessary the oral presentation would be moved to an online alternative.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MMB8043's Timetable