Current Projects

Canine Experimental Video Enrichment (CEVE)

• In collaboration with Dr. Kelley Winship at the US Navy Marine Mammal Program and the National Marine Mammal Foundation, we are training a dog to participate in a cursor game. Experimental video enrichment training involves a set of computerized games that are played by a canine to observe problem solving skills and a new type of animal enrichment. You can see our dog participant, Orlo, in action on his Instagram page: @orlo_thedapperscrapper

Parrot Cognition Project

• The Parrot Cognition Project study works with a local Saint Petersburg couple, Dalton Mason and Tori Lacey, and their African Grey Parrot, Apollo. Researchers are currently observing Apollo's abilities to recognize and verbalize different concepts such as materials, colors, and object labels. This study is inspired by and based upon Dr. Irene Pepperberg’s “Model/Rival Technique”. You can follow Apollo on his Instagram page: @apolloandfrens

Squirrel Cognition Project 

• This study seeks to investigate the cognitive abilities of native squirrels at Eckerd College through behavioral observation and problem-solving tasks. Squirrels are identified through personality assessments before being exposed to a multi-access puzzle box. Researchers observe foraging cognition and problem-solving capabilities in correlation to squirrels' boldness and performance when interacting with the puzzle box. 

Delay Discounting Dog project

• This project mainly focuses on self-control and impulsivity. The dogs will first undergo a preference test to determine their "high-value " and "low-value " rewards. They will then have to complete a task in which their high-value reward is moved farther away over time. So, does the cost outweigh the benefit? But before the dogs participate in this portion of the project, they will go on a “sniffy-walk” to see whether it has any significant influence on their individual trials. 

Canine Long-Term Memory

• The aim of the study is to test long-term memory (LTM) in dogs using puzzle tasks. Research into social learning strategies and LTM has covered a wide range of taxa. Other species have been observed using novel extractive foraging tasks (puzzle feeders) to provide evidence of a capacity for social learning and LTM.  The study will be an extension to test long-term memory in multiple species using novel puzzle feeders in dogs. This research plan builds upon initial attempts to investigate cognition and memory in non-human animals.