Maps in Your Mind:Edward C. Tolman and the Cognitive Map

Jack Bermingham

Background

• Conceived By Edward C. Tolman of UC Berkeley in 1948

• Cognition was regarded as an unscientific study

Experimental Method

• Rats released into a simple “maze” structure

• Three groups of rats, based on rewards: – Control Group: food after the

maze – Delayed Group: food after the

maze starting on day 11– No Reward Group: no food

• Maze structure switched–Location of food stayed the same

Findings

• No Reward Group and Delay group learned the maze more slowly

• Delay Group quickly caught up to Control group once food was introduced

• Majority of rats in new maze moved toward the location of the food in the previous maze.. Not in the direction that the previous maze led them!

Historical Significance

• Tolman is considered the founder of cognitive-behavioral psychology

• Initiated shift towards scientific investigation of cognitive process –as opposed to simply studying reactions to stimuli.