Virtual simulated environments provide multiple ways of testing cognitive function and evaluatingproblem solving with humans （e.g., Woollett et al. 2009）. The use of such interactive technologyhas increasingly becom...Virtual simulated environments provide multiple ways of testing cognitive function and evaluatingproblem solving with humans （e.g., Woollett et al. 2009）. The use of such interactive technologyhas increasingly become an essential part of modern life （e.g., autonomously driving vehicles, glo-bal positioning systems （GPS）, and touchscreen computers; Chinn and Fairlie 2007; Brown 2011）.While many nonhuman animals have their own forms of technology, such as chimpanzees whocreate and use tools, in captive animal environments the opportunity to actively participate withinteractive technology is not often made available. Exceptions can be found in some state-of-the-art zoos and laboratory facilities （e.g., Mallavarapu and Kuhar 2005）. When interactive technologyis available, captive animals often selectively choose to engage with it. This enhances the animal＇ssense of control over their immediate surroundings （e.g., Clay et al. 2011; Ackerman 2012）. Suchself-efficacy may help to fulfill basic requirements in a species＇ daily activities using problem solv-ing that can involve foraging and other goal-oriented behaviors. It also assists in fulfilling thestrong underlying motivation for contrafreeloading and exploration expressed behaviorally bymany species in captivity （Young 1999）. Moreover, being able to present nonhuman primates vir-tual reality environments under experimental conditions provides the opportunity to gain insightinto their navigational abilities and spatial cognition. It allows for insight into the generation andapplication of internal mental representations of landmarks and environments under multiple con-ditions （e.g., small- and large-scale space） and subsequent spatial behavior. This paper reviewsmethods using virtual reality developed to investigate the spatial cognitive abilities of nonhumanprimates, and great apes in particular, in comparison with that of humans of multiple age groups.We make recommendations about training, best practices, and also pitfalls to avoid.展开更多
文摘Virtual simulated environments provide multiple ways of testing cognitive function and evaluatingproblem solving with humans （e.g., Woollett et al. 2009）. The use of such interactive technologyhas increasingly become an essential part of modern life （e.g., autonomously driving vehicles, glo-bal positioning systems （GPS）, and touchscreen computers; Chinn and Fairlie 2007; Brown 2011）.While many nonhuman animals have their own forms of technology, such as chimpanzees whocreate and use tools, in captive animal environments the opportunity to actively participate withinteractive technology is not often made available. Exceptions can be found in some state-of-the-art zoos and laboratory facilities （e.g., Mallavarapu and Kuhar 2005）. When interactive technologyis available, captive animals often selectively choose to engage with it. This enhances the animal＇ssense of control over their immediate surroundings （e.g., Clay et al. 2011; Ackerman 2012）. Suchself-efficacy may help to fulfill basic requirements in a species＇ daily activities using problem solv-ing that can involve foraging and other goal-oriented behaviors. It also assists in fulfilling thestrong underlying motivation for contrafreeloading and exploration expressed behaviorally bymany species in captivity （Young 1999）. Moreover, being able to present nonhuman primates vir-tual reality environments under experimental conditions provides the opportunity to gain insightinto their navigational abilities and spatial cognition. It allows for insight into the generation andapplication of internal mental representations of landmarks and environments under multiple con-ditions （e.g., small- and large-scale space） and subsequent spatial behavior. This paper reviewsmethods using virtual reality developed to investigate the spatial cognitive abilities of nonhumanprimates, and great apes in particular, in comparison with that of humans of multiple age groups.We make recommendations about training, best practices, and also pitfalls to avoid.
