Nicola S. Clayton, Professor

Professor of Comparative Cognition
Departmental Graduate Tutor and Chair of the Graduate Education Committee and
Director of Studies in Natural Sciences (Biological) for Clare College and Clare College Graduate Tutor
Tel: 01223 333559 Fax: 01223 333564
n.clayton@psychol.cam.ac.uk, www.clare.cam.ac.uk

Teaching

Prof Clayton lectures and is willing to supervise in the following areas
Evolution and Behaviour part 1A: Evolution of Behaviour (Lent term)
Evolution and Behaviour part 1A: Primate and Human Evolution and Behaviour (Easter term)
Comparative Psychology of Learning and Cognition part 2 (Michaelmas term, Lent term).

Research Activities

Prof. Clayton's research is in Comparative Cognition, at the interface between animal behaviour, experimental psychology and neuroscience. Current studies include (a) tests of social and physical cognition in corvids (rooks, jackdaws, jays), (b) comparative studies of corvid and ape cognition, (c) episodic-like memory and future planning in food-caching corvids and rodents, and (d) comparative studies of memory in parids (tits and chickadees).

I am interested in the evolution and development of cognition in animals and young children. I work mainly with members of the crow family (corvids) in a variety of species ncluding jackdaws, rooks and jays, although I also have some studies on rats, bats, apes and young children. Please see Comparative Cognition Lab web page for more information about specific topics. See Comparative Cognition Lab web page for more information.

Science and Dance

Nicky is also a keen dancer and is fascinated by the links between science and dance. She is collaborating with Rambert Dance Company on a new work, 'The Comedy
of Change', based on Darwinian principles to commemorate Darwin's 200th anniversary. See My Word: Dancing to Darwin & Darwin and Dance. Science 325, 1481.

http://www.rambert.org.uk/comedy_of_change/mark_baldwin/marks_blog/on_the_origin_of_species
http://www.skyarts.co.uk/video/video-sky-arts-at-rambert-dance-company

Rambert Dance Company have just appointed Nicky to become the Company's Scientific Advisor.