African Gray Parrot Grasps Zero Concept
July 9, 2005 1:11 p.m. EST
Hector Duarte Jr. - All Headline News Staff Reporter
Boston, Massachusetts (AHN) - Alex, a 28-year-old African gray
parrot, responds "none" when he sees there are no items on a tray, which
is usually stocked with objects.
Although his brain is the size of a walnut, scientists say Alex's
ability to understand the concept of zero is amazing, as humans do not
typically grasp it until the age of 3 or 4.
According to Irene Pepperburg, who led the reasearch, Alex possesses
a zero-like concept, which although different to ours, still demonstrates
his ability to understand an absence of quantity.
The results add to growing evidence that birds and other animals are
much smarter than we thought. A 2003 study in the journal Nature, found
common marsh birds, known as coots, can keep count of their own eggs, even
when other eggs are mixed in the nest.
Black-capped chickadees were found to warn other birds of danger by
chirping the size and threat of individual predators, while the language
of prairie dogs was found to contain a word for humans.
Studies have also shown monkeys, dogs and rats all know how to
laugh.
The discovery of Alex's counting ability raises the question whether
humanlike behavior in animals is truly innate of if a creature is simply
mimicking a trainer.
Pepperberg responded, "It is doubtful that Alex's achievement, or
those of some other animals such as chimps, can be completely trained.
Rather, it seems likely that these skills are based on simpler cognitive
abilities they need for survival, such as recognition of more versus
less."
She now plans to find out how well Alex can add and subtract.
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