Kishore Kuchibhotla, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University, alongside his team, delved into the intricacies of animal cognition, particularly focusing on mice. Despite previous notions of rodents underperforming in tasks they understand well, Kuchibhotla's team discovered that mice exhibit strategic behavior akin to hypothesis testing, suggesting higher cognitive processes at work.

Figure 1. Proposed Method. (Credit: Johns Hopkins University)

Exploring the Gap between Knowledge and Performance

Figure 1 shows the illustration of the proposed method. In investigating why mice seemed to falter in tasks they knew, Kuchibhotla hypothesized that either stress or purposeful exploration could be behind this phenomenon. To discern the truth, they designed a novel experiment. [1]

Strategic Behavior Unveiled

The team observed how mice, when presented with two sounds corresponding to different actions, displayed a nuanced strategy of initially exploring both options before settling on a consistent response. This behavior, initially misconstrued as mistakes, actually showcased the mice's strategic approach to learning.

Insights from Reward-Based Learning

Further experiments without rewards revealed that mice adjusted their strategies based on violated expectations, demonstrating an internal model of the task and a propensity for strategic thinking. [2]

Comparing Mouse Behavior to Human Learning

Kuchibhotla drew parallels between mouse behavior and the exploratory learning observed in nonverbal human infants, highlighting the shared aspect of hypothesis testing and strategic exploration.

Interpreting Behavior and Future Directions

Kuchibhotla and his team interpreted mouse behavior akin to psychological analysis, emphasizing the need to understand animal cognition from their perspective. Their future research aims to unravel the neural basis of strategic thinking and its variations across different species.

Source: Johns Hopkins University

References:

1. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1041940
2. https://www.news-expressky.com/news/national/research-reveals-mice-think-just-like-human-babies/article_7c58d575-2bef-5b23-b4b1-48ee964e1ede.html

Cite this article:

Hana M (2024), Unlocking the Hidden Intelligence of Mice: A Journey into Strategic Thinking, AnaTechmaz, pp. 915