What makes human beings so special? Is it the size of our brains? Our art and culture? Our use of tools? This class is a brief introduction to the field of comparative cognition, which looks to answer questions about humanity through studying what our fellow animals are capable of. After a brief introduction to the field's big questions, we'll explore fun examples from a variety of "smart" species, including octopuses, birds, dolphins, and more! We'll draw on studies from psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, and cognitive science in this interdisciplinary science course.

What makes the human brain special? Some common answers to this question are brain size, the use of tools, mathematics, complex language, and the creation of artwork. But are these traits really so rare in the animal world? Through this brief introduction to the field of comparative cognition, we'll learn about the physical and mental differences between the brains of a variety of animals, taking examples from birds, dolphins, octopuses, and more!