Kishore Kuchibhotla, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University, has been studying animal learning for years, specifically focusing on mice. He noticed that rodents often performed poorly in tests despite knowing how to perform well. Through a series of experiments, Kuchibhotla and his team found that animals, like humans, can make hypotheses and test them through higher cognitive processes. This research, published in Current Biology, sheds light on animal cognition and could help identify the neural basis for strategizing.
Previous work in Kuchibhotla’s lab showed that animals have more knowledge about tasks than they demonstrate in tests. The research team had two theories behind this gap: either the mice were making mistakes due to stress, or they were purposefully exploring and testing their knowledge. To investigate this further, Kuchibhotla and graduate student Ziyi Zhu designed a new experiment where mice had to respond to different sounds by turning a wheel left or right to receive a reward.
Through observation, the researchers found that the mice would initially make mistakes in response to the sounds, but were actually engaging in a strategic exploration process. The animals would switch between turning the wheel left and right as they tried to understand the task. By removing the reward from the equation, the researchers discovered that the mice would double down on the correct response when retested, showing that they had an internal model of the task and were adapting their strategy based on feedback.
Kuchibhotla noted that the mice’s strategic behavior is similar to how nonverbal human babies learn. Both are highly exploratory and may test hypotheses in various ways. He described the process of interpreting the mice’s behavior as being “a little bit of a mouse psychologist,” as they had to infer the underlying mental processes based on the animals’ actions alone. The team now aims to investigate the neural basis for strategic thinking and compare strategies across different animal species.
The research has implications for understanding animal cognition and learning processes. By showing that animals are capable of strategic exploration and hypothesis testing, the study contributes to our understanding of how animals learn and adapt their behavior. This work could also provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying strategic thinking in different species, offering potential applications in cognitive research and animal behavior studies.
Overall, Kuchibhotla’s research highlights the complexity of animal learning and behavior. By examining how mice navigate tasks and adapt their strategies, the study reveals the intelligence and cognitive abilities of these animals. Understanding how animals learn and process information can not only enhance our knowledge of animal cognition but also provide valuable insights into human learning processes and decision-making strategies.
