Animal Cognition
Laboratory
Ferris State University’s animal cognition lab consists of two research labs and a colony room to house the pigeons that are used as subjects. The goal of the lab is to explore the cognitive abilities of pigeons. Research focuses on concept formation and memory strategies.
Two experimental psychologists, Dr. Pisacreta and Dr. Weaver, guide students through the research process. Students receive hands-on experience learning and applying information about research and theories of learning. In the lab, students are actively involved in the production of new knowledge in the field of animal cognition.
Dr. Pisacreta's current experiments include assessing whether pigeons can learn the concept of addition (e.g., 1+2=3) and whether pigeons can learn the concepts of "same" and "different".
Dr. Weaver’s current experiment explores mechanisms responsible for animal inferences (e.g., knowing that A is greater than C, after being trained that A is greater than B, and that B is greater than C).
