title: Tests for cognitive mapping in Clark's nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana).
abstract: In these experiments, the authors examined the nature of the spatial information that Clark's nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana) use during navigation and whether this information is represented in the form of a cognitive map. In Experiment 1, nutcrackers were able to use distal cues to locate a small hidden goal. In Experiments 2 and 3, nutcrackers were given the opportunity to develop a map of a room by viewing local subsets of the landmarks in the room at a goal during training. During transfer tests, nutcrackers were presented with a landmark panorama that was not previously seen at the goal. Of 3 nutcrackers that had learned the relationship between distal cues and the goal, 3 were able to locate the goal during transfer, indicating they may have developed a cognitive map. Experiments 4 and 5 suggest that the simpler mechanism of vector integration may have been used by some nutcrackers during the transfer tests.
authors.affiliation: U Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska Behavior & Biology Group.
authors.forename: Brett M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Alan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kamil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D001245:Association Learning; D001288:Attention; D001717:Birds; D011939:Mental Recall; D009949:Orientation; D011340:Problem Solving; D012931:Social Environment; D013028:Space Perception; D014163:Transfer, Psychology