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.
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