The key differences between human and animal cognition arise in four areas:
The ability to recombine different types of knowledge and information to gain new understanding
The ability to generalise apply a “rule” or solution for a known problem to a new and different situation
The ability to create symbolic representations of sensory input and to easily understand them
The ability to detach raw sensory and perceptual input from modes of thought.
In particular, animal intelligence is more like a “laser beam”, applying specific solutions to specific problems whereas human intelligence is more like a “floodlight” which enables us to use our thought processes in innovative ways.