In this area of study faculty work with Pavlovian and instrumental learning, cognitive processes in animals, and social learning in animals.
Within Pavlovian and instrumental learning, we study phenomena such as contextual cue learning, occasion-setting, blocking and extinction. Some of these phenomena are studied in the context of mating and foraging behavior with an emphasis on understanding mechanisms of learning. Others involve investigating the adaptive significance of learning, thereby creating a link between learning and behavioral ecology.
The study of cognitive processes includes animals' use of memory strategies, timing processes, concept learning, and other analogs to human information processing.
Click here for a student handbook on the Cognitive and Developmental Science program.
Core Faculty Members
- Akins, Chana K., University of Texas, 1994; Associate Professor.
- Taylor, Ronald D., Texas Christian University, 1981; Associate Professor
- Zentall, Thomas R, University of California, Berkeley, 1969; Professor.
Faculty Members with Related Interests
- Bardo, Michael, Iowa State University, 1980; Professor.
- Barron, Susan, State University of New York (Albany), 1987; Associate Professor.
- Cooper, Robin. (Biological Sciences), Texas Tech University, 1989; Assistant Professor.
- Westneat, David , (Biological Sciences), University of North Carolina, 1986, Professor.