Extrapolation ability in animals and its possible links to exploration, anxiety, and novelty seeking

Abstract

The notion of “extrapolation ability” was developed by L.V. Krushinsky. His concept of animal reasoning, signifies the ability of animals to anticipate the position of (food) stimuli after their translocation and disappearance from the animals’ view. Experiments proved this ability is not a simple trait, but requires a constellation of various optimal cognitive functions. Only several genetic groups among laboratory rodents are able to anticipate food reward on the basis of extrapolation, as opposed to instrumental learning. The paper includes data on extrapolation ability in mice with various chromosomal rearrangements, showing non-random performance on extrapolation tasks in animals carrying specific mutations. Experiments in which mice were selected for extrapolation ability demonstrate concomitant changes in other cognitive tasks and traits (fear-anxiety, reactions to novelty). Future studies should involve both the combination of several experimental paradigms and correlational analysis to further delineate the genetic underpinnings of anticipation as expressed in the extrapolation ability.