Animal curiosity remains one of the spectacular aspects of the evolution of cognitive systems. Let's read what people have written on the subject.
Editor Wojciech Pisula
Are these statements still valid? I will propose a series of classic and contemporary papers enlighting this issue.
Important note: papers, which use exploratory acts as an indicator of something else, will not be included in this collection. Only papers concentrating on the animal exploratory activity itself will be included in the list.
Note: please expect the first papers to be posted here in June 2020.
Labels used in order to categorize the papers:
MUST-READ - paper that has to be taken into account when dealing with the subject.
WORTH READING - paper that may especially relevant depending on your particular interest.
SPECIFIC ASPECT - paper that deals with a specific aspect of animal exploration. Might be important for particular hypotheses or studies.
INTERESTING - the paper is generally relevant for the field of animal curiosity and exploration.
Peter J. Pierre, Paul Skjoldager, Allyson J. Bennett, Michael J. Renner
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0031-9384(00)00392-9
May 15, 2021 - SPECIFIC-ASPECT , Interesting methodological variant allowing to assess exploratory drive vs food-seeking.
Animal models of anxiety and depression: how are females different? (2001)
P Palanza
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0149-7634(01)00010-0
May 15, 2021 - INTERESTING - a nice example of the non-schematic approach to sex/gender differences and exploration.
Reaction to spatial novelty and exploratory strategies in baboons (1999)
S. Gouteux, J. Vauclair, C. Thinus-Blanc
http://dx.doi.org/10.3758/bf03199731
May 15, 2021 - SPECIFIC ASPECT - INTERESTING nice demonstration of ecologically valid approach
Robert A. Rosellini, David R. Widman
1 comment on PubPeer • http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0735-7036.103.4.339
Jan 04, 2021 - WORTH READING - one of the first and finest attempts to the problem of stress and exploration relationship.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0735-7036.101.1.94
Nov 18, 2020 - SPECIFIC ASPECT - Nice analysis of various aspects of exploration measurement
Integrative Levels in Comparative Psychology—The Example of Exploratory Behavior (1998)
Wojciech Pisula
http://dx.doi.org/10.1027//1016-9040.3.1.62
Nov 18, 2020 - INTERESTING - an attempt to organize an accumulated knowledge on exploration within the framework of the theory of the integrative levels.
Susan E. Maier, Paul Vandenhoff, Douglas P. Crowne
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0735-7036.102.4.378
Sep 23, 2020 - INTERESTING - A very nice application of multivariate approach to the measurement of exploration in rats.
Exploratory motivation in response-to-change test in rats (1980)
I Lukaszewska, Z Młodkowska
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7424576
Sep 23, 2020 - INTERESTING - An excellent application of the approach based on the initial familiarization and subsequent change of the stimulus field. Operationalization of the novelty defined as a "difference between the current experience and the previous one".
Defensive reactions and exploratory behavior in rats (1974)
R. J. Blanchard, M. J. Kelley, D. C. Blanchard
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0037591
Sep 21, 2020 - INTERESTING Early attempt to see exploration within the etho-experimental paradigm.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13505970
Sep 21, 2020 - MUST READ - very strong theoretical proposal.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13439128
Sep 21, 2020 - WORTH READING This paper is one of the earliest attempts to see curiosity as a result of the information incongruency.
Motivational problems raised by exploratory and epistemic behavior (2020)
D. E. Berlyne
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/10040-006
Jun 20, 2020 - MUST-READ - originally published in 1962, one of the very best theoretical analysis on curiosity and exploration.
Spontaneous alternation behavior (1958)
William N. Dember, Harry Fowler
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13602020
Jun 20, 2020 - MUST-READ - another classic stuff, which seems to be critical for our contemporary understanding of novelty related behavior
Curiosity, exploratory drive, and stimulus satiation (1958)
Murray Glanzer
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13591450
Jun 20, 2020 - MUST-READ - a very interesting attempt to theoretical conceptualization.
Learning when the onset of illumination is used as the reinforcing stimulus (1955)
George Bela Kish
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0040782
May 29, 2020 - My label: MUST-READ Crucial discovery. Stimulus change may serve as a reward—a critical finding for the theory of learning and exploration.
A Study of Exploratory Behavior in the White Rat by Means of the Obstruction Method (1930)
Henry W. Nissen
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08856559.1930.9944162
May 21, 2020 - My label: WORTH READING One of the initial experimental papers, demonstrating the power of exploratory motivation.
Drives and the C. N. S. (conceptual nervous system) (1955)
D. O. Hebb
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0041823
May 21, 2020 - My label: MUST-READ A seminal paper written by a giant of XX century psychology. One of the very best attempts to combine the psychological and neurobiological approaches.