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What are some approaches to studying spatial decision making and cognition in animals?
That’s correct! Researchers at MPI AB are using combinations of all these approaches to try to understand the what, when and where of animal decision making! Mathematical modeling and computer simulations are used to build our intuitions and develop theory about spatial cognition. Experimental work on fish and invertebrates are used to understand the relationship between what’s happening in the brain and what individuals are doing, and how individual decisions lead to group level decisions. Tracking technologies and remote sensing technologies are being used to map natural environments and monitor how wild animals move interact with them, giving us an idea of what their goals are and what information they use as they make decisions.
Actually, all of these approaches are used to help us understand what animals know and how and why animals make certain spatial decisions! Theoretical work allows us to build our intuitions and create testable hypotheses to be later addressed empirically. Experimental work allows us to elicit certain responses given specific conditions, and to try to link what the brain is doing as animals behave. Tracking and remote sensing technologies allow us to monitor animals in the wild so that we can understand the contexts they are actually faced with, and how they chose to interact with their environment, and what their goals are.
