Collective interactions, collaborative inhibition, and shared spatial knowledge.

Research on spatial mental representations focuses on individual mental maps and spatial knowledge. This exploratory study investigates instead collective interactions, collaborative memory, and the sharing of spatial knowledge. Based on the principle of collaborative inhibition (i.e., people recall information less effectively in groups), we posed the following research question: How do collective interactions, occurring during environmental exploration and group drawing sessions, affect collaborative inhibition, and the quality of sketch maps designed collectively? We conducted in situ explorations in Plaine St-Denis (France) with real-time tracking, followed by individual and group drawing sessions. This experiment involved 118 participants divided into three groups: (1) solo explorations without devices; (2) solo explorations with a mobile mapping application; (3) collective explorations using the same application enhanced with interaction features (viewing collective routes and photos of visited places). The comparison of the total number of entities found on individual mental maps with those included in collective sketch maps reveals that collaborative inhibition applies to spatial memory. Additional findings indicate that the use of a map, combined with collective interactions, mitigates collaborative inhibition and increases the accuracy of the sketch maps. However, the effect of such interactions on group dynamics remains unclear as of now.

Distinct Patterns of Hippocampal and Neocortical Evolution in Primates.

Because of the central role of the hippocampus in representing spatial and temporal details of experience, comparative studies of its volume and structure are relevant to understanding the evolution of representational memory across species. The hippocampal formation, however, is organized into separate anatomical subregions with distinct functions, and little is known about the evolutionary diversification of these subregions. We investigate relative volumetric changes in hippocampal subregions across a large sample of primate species. We then compare the evolution of the hippocampal formation to the neocortex. Results across hippocampal subregions indicate that, compared to strepsirrhines, the anthropoid lineage displays a decrease in relative CA3, fascia dentata, subiculum, and rhinal cortex volume in tandem with an increase in relative neocortical volume. These findings indicate that hippocampal function in anthropoids might be substantially augmented by the executive decision-making functions of the neocortex. Humans are found to have a unique cerebral organization combining increased relative CA3, subiculum, and rhinal cortex with increased relative neocortical volumes, suggesting that these regions may play a role in behaviors that are uniquely specialized in humans.

Ecological factors predictive of wild spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth) foraging decisions in Yasuní, Ecuador.

Because fruiting trees are uncommon in tropical forests, frugivorous primates experience selective pressure to incorporate knowledge of where to find feeding trees, what to expect when they arrive there, and when they can return after depleting a tree. I investigated these abilities in wild spider monkeys (Ateles belzebuth) in Yasuní, Ecuador, by analyzing the characteristics of feeding trees that drive foraging decisions. Foraging data were derived from four 2-week follows of focal adult females, conducted between May and December 1999, during which I measured and mapped all trees in which the focal subject fed, feeding bout duration, and the number of conspecifics feeding simultaneously with the focal. Taking into account the order in which feeding trees were visited across each follow, I analyzed each foraging decision from the second week of a follow, treating all previously visited trees as options for visits. I scored each option tree in terms of nine ecological variables, including the distance from the decision to each location tree, DBH, recent feeding time and mean feeding times for the focal and other monkeys present, and the interval in hours between the foraging decision and the most recent visit to each option tree. I then examined the predictive strength of the model using logistic regression analysis, comparing characteristics of selected trees to those not selected. The overall model successfully predicted trees selected by focal monkeys (r(2) = 0.27). Monkeys preferentially moved to nearby, large canopy trees, in which previous feeding success was high, and which were visited after an interval of 3.5 days. Interval mattered most for medium and large trees, but did not predict selection for trees <10 cm DBH. Despite the large home range and large numbers of trees, Yasuní spider monkeys appeared to integrate spatial, value, and temporal information when deciding where to feed.

The social dimensions of a river's environmental quality assessment.

Integrated water resources management, promoted in developed countries, obliges to integrate social aspects with hydrological and ecological dimensions when assessing river quality. To better understand these social aspects, we propose a mixed-method to study public perceptions of an impounded river. Since the 1930s, the management of the Ain river (France) has been challenged by conflicts about the river's quality. We surveyed (using interviews and mental maps) various stakeholders along the river. The results based on textual and content analysis show variations in the public's perceptions according to the residence area, practices, and the degree of emotional attachment to the river. The assessment of environmental quality needs to take into account different types of knowledge, sometimes conflicting, that reveal and shape the variety of waterscapes which compose the Ain River. The social dimensions highlight integrated water management's inherent complexity by considering the river basin as a place to live and by involving multiple stakeholders.

Biology Teachers' Worldviews on the Global Distribution and Loss of Biodiversity: A GIS-Based Mental-Mapping Approach.

This paper explores (1) student teachers' mental maps of the global distribution and loss of biodiversity and (2) their perception of threatened biodiversity at the national, transnational and global levels. Data was collected from a questionnaire study of student biology teachers from Germany (n = 868) and Costa Rica (n = 284). Student teachers' mental maps matched quite well with the scientific view. Nevertheless, they clearly showed a "brazilisation bias," meaning that the first and foremost country associated with high and threatened biodiversity was Brazil. Industrialized countries were often misconceived to have a particularly threatened biodiversity. Except for Brazil (and Costa Rica in the Costa Rican sample), most students neglected a connection between a country's high biodiversity and its high threat as proposed by the biodiversity hotspots concept. Despite this common ground, major ethnocentric distortions merged in the composite mental maps for each sample: German students had a more global perspective on biodiversity and its loss, whereas Costa Ricans students had a more localized view. Student teachers from both countries have largely overestimated the percentage of threatened plant species on a national, transnational and global level ("overestimation bias"). In addition, the estimated percentage of threatened plant species have correspondingly increased with a greater distance from the students' home country ("spatial optimism bias"). Results will be discussed in terms of educational implications.

O ensino de ciências na educação básica: desvendando o sistema nervoso através de cartilhas e mapas mentais / Science teaching in basic education: unveiling the nervous system through primers and mental maps / Enseñanza de ciencias en educación básica: desvelando el sistema nervioso a través de primers y mapas mentales

Objetivo: o estudo visou um relato de experiências entre os autores sobre a tutoria do módulo três durante o curso EAD no ano de 2022. Método: Este curso com atividades síncronas e assíncronas, para professores da educação básica e estudantes de graduação, foi realizado em outubro e novembro, do ano de 2022 e culminou na construção de uma cartilha com mapas mentais, temas e estratégias trabalhados durante o curso comomateriais pedagógicos para o ensino fundamental II. Resultados:A cartilha intitulada: as consequências do consumo de álcool ao sistema nervoso, teve como parceria professores de duas escolas básicas. Esta apresenta informações anatomofisiológicas a respeito do funcionamento do sistema nervoso e o álcool. A temática explica como o funcionamento do sistema nervoso pode ser afetado pelo uso de bebidas alcoólicas; compreensão das alterações causadas ao funcionamento do sistema nervoso pela ingestão de álcool e instrumentalização dos professores com mais um recurso pedagógico. Conclusão:Dessa forma, foi possível a promoção da sensibilização dos estudantes quanto aos aspectos negativos do uso de bebidas alcoólicas. Assim como, prevenção nos jovens quanto ao seuuso indiscriminado, colaborando com a popularização da ciência.

Objective:the study aimed to report experiences between the authors regarding the tutoring of module three during the EAD course in the year 2022. Method:This course with synchronous and asynchronous activities, for basic education teachers and undergraduate students, was carried out in October and November, 2022 and culminated in the construction of a booklet with mental maps, themes and strategies workedon during the course as teaching materials for elementary school II. Results:The booklet entitled: the consequences of alcohol consumption on the nervous system, was partnered with teachers from two basic schools. This presents anatomophysiological information regarding the functioning of the nervous system and alcohol. The theme explains how the functioning of the nervous system can be affected by the use of alcoholic beverages; understanding the changes caused to the functioning of the nervous system byalcohol intake and providing teachers with yet another pedagogical resource. Conclusion:In this way, it was possible to promote student awareness regarding the negative aspects of the use of alcoholic beverages. As well as prevention among young people regarding its indiscriminate use, collaborating with the popularization of science.

Objetivo: el estudio tuvo como objetivo relatar experiencias entre los autores respecto a la tutoría del módulo tres durante el curso EAD en el año 2022. Método: Este curso con actividades sincrónicas y asincrónicas, para docentes de educación básica y estudiantes de pregrado, se realizó en los meses de octubre y noviembre de 2022 y culminó con la construcción de una cartilla con mapas mentales, temáticas y estrategias trabajadas durante el curso como material didáctico para la escuela primaria II. Resultados:El cuadernillo titulado: las consecuencias del consumo de alcohol en el sistema nervioso, fue elaborado en colaboración con docentes de dos escuelas básicas. Presenta información anatomofisiológica sobre el funcionamiento del sistema nervioso y el alcohol. El tema explica cómo el funcionamiento del sistema nervioso puede verse afectado por el uso de bebidas alcohólicas; comprender los cambios que provoca en el funcionamiento del sistema nervioso la ingesta de alcohol y dotar a los docentes de un recurso pedagógico más. Conclusión: De esta manera, fue posible sensibilizar a los estudiantes sobre los aspectos negativos del consumo de alcohol. Así como la prevención entre los jóvenes sobre su uso indiscriminado, contribuyendo a la popularización de la ciencia.