Cognitive Processes and Spatial Orientation in Animal and Man: Volume I Experimental Animal Psychology and Ethology

340 Pages·1987·17.71 MB·English

by  Catherine Thinus-Blanc (auth.)

Cognitive Processes and Spatial Orientation
in Animal and Man
NATO ASI Series
Advanced Science Institutes Series
A Series presenting the results of activities sponsored by the NATO Science
Committee, which aims at the dissemination of advanced scientific and technological
knowledge, with a view to strengthening links between scientific communities.
The Series is published by an international board of publishers in conjunction with the
NATO Scientific Affairs Division
A Life Sciences Plenum Publishing Corporation
B Physics London and New York
C Mathematical and D. Reidel Publishing Company
Physical Sciences DordrechUBoston/Lancaster/To kyo
0 Behavioural and Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
Social Sciences BostonlDordrechULancaster
E Applied Sciences
F Computer and Springer-Verlag
Systems Sciences Berlin/Heidelberg/New York
G Ecological Sciences London/ParislTo kyo
H Cell Biology
Series 0: Behavioural and Social Sciences - No. 36
Cognitive Processes and Spatial
Orientation in Animal and Man
Volume I Experimental Animal Psychology
and Ethology
edited by
Paul Ellen
Georgia State University
Atlanta
USA
Catherine Thinus-Blanc
C.N.R.S.
Marseille
France
1987 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
Dordrecht / Boston / Lancaster
Published in cooperation with NATO Scientific Affairs Division
Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Cognitive Processes and
Spatial Orientation in Animal and Man", La-Baume-Les-Aix (Aix-en-Provence), France,
June 27-July 7, 1985
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Cognitive Processes
and Spatial Orientation in Animal and Man" (1985
La Baume-les-Aix, France)
Cognitive processes and spatial orientation in
animal and mane
(NATO ASI series. Series D. Behavioural and social
sciences ; no. 36-37)
"Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on
ItCognitive Processes and Spatial Orientation in Amimal
and Man," La-Baume-les-Aix (Aix-en-Provence), France,
June 27-July 7, 1985"--T.p. verso.
"Published in cooperation with NATO Scientific
Affairs Division."
Contents: v. 1. Experimental animal psychology and
ethology -- v. 2. Neurophysiology and developmental
aspects.
Includes indexes.
1. Animal cognition--Congresses. 2. Animal
orientation--Congresses. 3. Cognition--Congresses.
4. Orientation (Psychologyl--Congresses. I. Ellen,
Paul. II. Thinus-Blanc, Catherine. Ill. North Atlantic
Treaty Organization. IV. Title. V. Series. [DNLM:
1. Cognition--congresses. 2. Spatial Behavior-
congresses. BF 469 N279c 1985]
QL785.N38 1985 156'.34 86-28478
ISBN-13: 978-94-010-8078-1 e-ISBN-13: 978-94-009-3531-0
DOl: 10.1007/978-94-009-3531-0
Distributors for the United States and Canada: Kluwer Academic Publishers,
P.O. Box 358, Accord-Station, Hingham, MA 02018-0358, USA
Distributors for the UK and Ireland: Kluwer Academic Publishers, MTP Press Ltd,
Falcon House, Queen Square, Lancaster LA1 1 RN, UK
Distributors for all other countries: Kluwer Academic Publishers Group, Distribution
Center, P.O. Box 322, 3300 AH Dordrecht, The Netherlands
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the
publishers,
Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, P.O. Box 163, 3300 AD Dordrecht, The Netherlands
Copyright © 1987 by Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht
Softcover reprint of the hardcover lst edition 1987
v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This Symposium was sponsored by various organizations, national and
international. The Organizing Committee would like to thank them and
their representatives :
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization, N.A.T.O.
- Institut de Neurophysiologie et Psychophysiologie, C.N.R.S., Marseilles.
- Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence.
- Roussel-UCLAF Laboratories.
- Rhone-Poulence Laboratories.
- Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.
VII
HOMMAGE
We were in the midst of finishing the edition of this book when, on
the 17th of January 1986, Paul Ellen suddenly died. He was a professor of
the Department of Psychology of Georgia State University in Atlanta. He
was also one of the most outstanding representati ves of Cogni ti ve Animal
Psychology in the United States. He had received one of the best possible
formations, since from 1949 to 1952 he was a research assistant to N.R.F.
Maier at the University of Michigan. With N.R.F. Maier, he developed
studies on learning, stress-induced and problem solving behavior. In
1953, he was drafted and served during the Korean war in a Military
Research Unit, studying the effects of cold weather on human behavior and
other assorted problems. Then, he worked for two years as a graduate
research assistant at the Vision Research laboratories of the University
of Michigan, studying human oculomotor behavior. More specifically, he
investigated problems related to the char.ges in corneal-retinal potential
associated with movements of the eye in far-to-near accomodation.
Furthermore, he conducted studies of changes in corneal-retinal potential
as a function of the adaptation level of the retina. In 1957, he did
research for the U.S. Veterans Administration, successively in
Massachusetts, Illinois and Mississipi, most of his work related to
electrophysiology. Professor of Psychology in Atlanta since 1965, he
began at that time to study the septum and limbic system in general in
rats, testing first the effects of lesions on timing behavior,
conditioning spatial learning, spontaneous alternation and DRL. Then, in
the late seventies, he devoted most of his work to the role of the septum
in spatial problem solving using Maier's three-table test. In several
VIII
papers, he thoroughly analyzed the cognitive and spatial mechanisms
involved in this task such as the role of exploratory behavior in
cognitive mapping. The new and rigorously scientific way he developed
this topic provides a remarkable example of what physiological psychology
should represent in contemporary Neurosciences. Let's hope that this
field will continue to develop along his lines.
Paul Ellen was a hard-working perfectionist, taking great pain in
everything he did. He was also extremely open-minded when it came to new
projects and collaboration. The NATO ASI meeting we both organized in
Aix-en-Provence which was an opportunity for him to promote
interdisciplinary exchanges. The last time we worked together was when I
spent two weeks in Atlanta, last November, to put the finishing touches
on these volumes. We had very heated discussions because he had specific
ideas on everything, but he was also tolerant and accepted worthy
arguments. This book was very important for him. We are all deeply
saddened that he could not see the fruit of his efforts.
Paul was also a very enthusiastic, cheerful and outgoing man,
enjoying life and friends. Everybody who met him in Aix-en-Provence will
continue to remember him this way. The many saddened letters I have
received from the NATO participants are eloquent proof.
I want to express here my deep gratitude for everything he did in the
name of our common field of research and also in the name of friendship.
I also want to thank his closest collaborators, Drs. Thorn Herrmann
from Guelph University (Canada) and Charlene Wages from Georgia State
University, as well as Prof. Duane Rumbaugh, the Chairman of the
Department of Psychology of G.S.U. : they all helped me to give this last
hommage to Prof. Paul Ellen.
Professor Rumbaugh has just established a scholarship fund in his
name. May this grant help young students to follow in his footsteps.
C. Thinus-Blanc
Marseille, France February 1986
IX
PREFACE
These volumes represent the proceedings of NATO Advanced Study
Institute on the topic of "Cognitive Processes and Spatial Orientation in
Animal and Man" held at La-Baume-les-Aix, Aix-en-Provence, France, in
June-July 1985.
The motivation underlying this Institute stemmed from the recent
advances and interest in the problems of spatial behavior. In Psychology,
traditional S-R concepts were found to be unsatisfactorY for fully
accounting for the complexity of spatial behavior. Coupled with the
decline in such an approach, has been a resurgence of interest in
cognitive types of concepts. In Ethology, investigators have begun to use
more sophisticated methods for the study of homing and navigational
behaviors. In the general area of Neuroscience, marked advances have been
achieved in the understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying spatial
behaviors. And finally, there has been a burgeoning interest and body of
knowledge concerning the development of spatial behavior in humans.
All of these factors combined to suggest the necessity of bringing
together scientists working in these areas with the intent that such a
meeting might lead to a cross-fertilization of the various areas.
Possibly by providing a context in which members of the various
disciplines could interact, it was felt that we might increase the
likelihood of identifying those similarities and differences in the
concepts and methods common to all groups. Such an identification could
provide the basis for a subsequent interdisciplinary research effort.
The concept of "cognitive map", although originated by a
psychologist, E.C. Tolman, nearly 40 years ago, has become one of the
most current theoretical constructs in each of the disciplines
represented at the ASI. As consequence, we are immediately confronted
,,,i th the question of whether the "cogni ti ve map" that an ethologist
invokes in accounting for the homing behavior of pigeons or squirrels is
the same kind of "map" that a geographer attributes to an individual
learning the layout of a city or a psychologist suggests underlies the
spatial problem solving of a rat.
This ASI was divided into four topical areas. In the first volume,
spatial behavior is examined from the perspective of animal psychology
and ethology ; the second volume considers the neurophysiological
mechanisms underlying spatial organization and the development of such
spatial function. These traditional approaches to spatial behavior were
complemented by contributions dealing with the organization of near,
x
proximal space. Could our view of the development and organization of
distal space find its roots in sensori-motor mechanisms underlying
eye-hand spatial coordination ? Similarly, the contribution of
Neuroethological approaches to species-specific spatial behavior was
brought to bear on the general topic of the ASI. Finally, we attempted to
gain insight into the problem of spatial behavior by viewing it from the
context of the historic controversy between the behaviorist and cognitive
psychologies. To the extent that similar controversy still exists today,
we have evidence that truth is not to be found on one side or the other ;
rather we are dealing with basic differences in philosophy which are not
likely to be solved by the methods of science.
We thank all of our participants. They came from the various NATO
countries and from Switzerland. Their presence and contribution to the
discussions at La Baume provided ten days of intense intellectual
stimulation. Special mention should be made of Dr. D. MacDonald of
Oxford. His films provided material for excellent discussions. We also
wish to make special note of the great and kind assistance rendered to
each of the participants by the staff of the INP of CNRS, Marseilles.
Their efficient and pleasant attention ensured that our time was devoted
to the concerns of spatial behavior. We also wish to thank the
participants and also P. Bovet, R. Camp an , M. Jeannerod, J. Requin, S.
Thorpe and M. Piatelli-Palmarini who kindly consented to review some of
the chapters. Their assistance greatly facilitated our efforts in
bringing the proceedings of the ASI into book form.
We need to recognize also the members of the International Organizing
Committee, Prof. Linda Acredolo of the University of California, Davis,
and Prof. Jonathan Winson of the Rockefeller University. Their
contribution to the selection of participants played a large role in the
success of the ASI.
Finally, mention should be made of Dr. Craig Sinclair of the NATO and
Henny Hoogervorst of Martinus Nijhoff, Publishers. They assisted us in a
variety of ways in differents stages of this project.
At this time it is too early to evaluate the results of this ASI. We
hope that we have begun an interactive process among the various
disciplines. At our next meeting we hope to see the results of current
efforts.
Paul Ellen
Catherine Thinus-Blanc
Atlanta, Georgia
November, 1985
XI
Volume 1
CON TEN T S
The cognitive map concept and its consequences.
C. Thinus-Blanc.
Cognitive mechanisms in animal problem-solving. 20
P. Ellen.
SECTION I. Experimental Animal Psychology.
Behavior in relation to objects in space so~e historical perspectives. 39
H. E. Rashotte.
Behavior as a locationist views it. 55
E.W. Henzel, Jr.
Local cues and distal arrays in the control of spatial behavior. 73
W.K. Honig.
A comparative approach to cognitive mapping. 89
J. Vauclair.
Detour and shortcut abilities in several species of mammals. 97
N. Chapuis.
Hovement through space and spatially organized behavior. 107
J.H. Stahl, S.B. Bagley, J.L. NcKenzie, and P.L. Burst.
Study of cognitive processes used by dogs in spatial tasks. 114
C. Fabrigoule.
Role of the spatial structure in mUltiple choice problem-solving by
golden hamsters.
H.-C. Buhot, and H. Poucet. 124
Hemory properties of spatial behaviours in cats and hamsters. 135
B. Poucet, and G. Scotto.
The role of intramaze stimuli in spatial problem solving. 147
C. I"ages.
Rats use the geometry of surfaces for navigation. 153
K. Cheng.
Dissociation between components of spatial memory in the rat during
ontogeny. 160
F. Schenk.