Understanding Animal Intelligence: Practical Behavior Theory for Biology, Psychology, and Cognitive Science synthesizes theories and practice to comprehend animal cognition. Using the framework of reinforcement learning, this book combines current knowledge of animal intelligence, focusing on decision-making, memory retrieval, associative learning, training, and more. It evaluates how evolutionary and environmental factors influence cognition and behavior. Additionally, the book explores motivational states and how these fulfill different goals, such as seeking food and water. Moreover, this book is a valuable reference and essential reading for courses in animal behavior, animal physiology, and ethology.

It provides a comprehensive analysis of animal intelligence by examining decision-making processes, memory retrieval, and associative learning. The book also delves into the interplay between evolutionary and environmental influences on cognition and behavior and demonstrates how learning can align with genetic predispositions.

• Features similarly structured chapters for easy reading and referencing
• Includes steps to understand, apply, and analyze math and coding, as well as exercises for readers to practice independently
• Uses the R statistical environment and LearningSimulator.org for real-world modelling