Animal Behavior and Cognition Lab
The University of Puget Sound's Animal Behavior and Cognition Lab focuses on a variety of psychological research questions which can be investigated through the study of nonhuman animals. The lab studies behavior from social, comparative, developmental, and animal welfare perspectives.
Dr. Colbert-White is not taking on any additional research students for fall of 2023; however, please do get in touch to express interest for future semesters!
Dr. Colbert-White is not taking on any additional research students for fall of 2023; however, please do get in touch to express interest for future semesters!
Lab Members
Andrew Lor (F'23)
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Matthew Maus ('24)
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Current and Recent Projects
- Side bias in choice tasks (collaboration with Dr. Henriette Bolló; Tia-Jane Fowler, '23; Andrew Lor, '23)
- Social learning and oxytocin levels in dogs (collaboration with Dr. Alexa Tullis, Biology; Skyler Dela Cruz, '23)
- Assessing raptor cognition via the string-pull test (Colby Smith, '23)
- Quantity discrimination by dogs (Matthew Maus, '24; Devin Anderson, '22)
- The effects of reward on dogs' choice behavior (collaboration with Dr. Alexa Tullis, Biology; Maxx King, '19)
- Comparative cognition literature review (Anna Marchand, '19; Dylan Richmond, '15)
- Standardizing methods for assessing the uncanny valley (André Zamani, '19)
- The effects of animal presence on feelings of social exclusion (Alissa Charvonia, '17)
- Dogs' use of intonation as a social referencing cue (collaboration with Dr. Alexa Tullis, Biology)
- The effects of predator stress on empathy-like helping behavior by Norway rats (Eden Ehrmann, '17)
- Assessment of the role of previous experience as a motivator of empathy-like helping behavior by Norway rats (Dylan Richmond '15)
- Assessment of validity and reliability of temperament (i.e., behavioral syndromes) measurements in Norway rats (Jennifer Onaga '15)
- Paired sleeping behavior and its correlates to exploratory behavior in Norway rats (Allison Winzenried, '16)
Lab Alumni
- Colby Smith ('23)
- Tia-Jane Fowler ('23)
- Skyler Dela Cruz ('23)
- Devin Anderson ('22)
- Andee Rorabaugh ('20)
- Gordon Zhang ('20)
- Anna Marchand ('19)
- André Zamani ('19)
- Lilly Bengtson ('18)
- Erin Cummiskey ('18)
- Eden Ehrmann ('17)
- Kaylana Patterson ('17)
- Kiona Parker ('17)
- Alissa Charvonia ('17)
- Allison Winzenried ('16)
- Jennifer Onaga ('15)
- Dylan Richmond ('15)