This article makes an amazing assertion and also claims that experimental trial were done. I haven't found anything yet that claims is a faulty assumption. The article has a link to a journal article, for those with access.
http://www.upliftprogram.com/h_brain.html#h66 http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=browsePA.volumes&jcode=com Brainy Birds Aug 5, 2005 A Brandeis University researcher has shown that an African grey parrot with a walnut-sized brain understands a numerical concept akin to zero--an abstract notion that humans don't typically understand until age three or four, and that can significantly challenge learning- disabled children. Strikingly, Alex, the 28-year-old parrot who lives in a Brandeis lab run by comparative psychologist and cognitive scientist Dr. Irene Pepperberg, spontaneously and correctly used the label "none" during a testing session of his counting skills to describe an absence of a numerical quantity on a tray. This discovery prompted a series of trials in which Alex consistently demonstrated the ability to identify zero quantity by saying the label "none." Dr. Pepperberg's research findings, published in the current issue of The Journal of Comparative Psychology, add to a growing body of scientific evidence that the avian brain, though physically and organizationally somewhat different from the mammalian cortex, is capable of higher cognitive processing than previously thought. Chimpanzees and possibly squirrel monkeys show some understanding of the concept of zero, but Alex is the first bird to demonstrate an understanding of the absence of a numerical set, Dr. Pepperberg noted. "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," explained Dr. Pepperberg. Alex had previously used the label "none" to describe an absence of similarity or difference between two objects, but he had never been taught the concept of zero quantity. "Alex has a zero-like concept; it's not identical to ours but he repeatedly showed us that he understands an absence of quantity," said Dr. Pepperberg. Historically, the use of "zero" to label a null set has not always been obvious even in human cultures, which in many cases lacked a formal term for zero as recently as the late Middle Ages. The value of number research lies mainly in its ability to help determine the extent of animal cognition and animals' potential for more complex capacities. To that end, Dr. Pepperberg's studies on the avian brain are continuing with research into Alex's ability to count, as well as add and subtract small quantities. Yet significantly, Dr. Pepperberg's research, which uses a training method called the model-rival technique, also holds promise for teaching autistic and other learning-disabled children who have difficulty learning language, numerical concepts and even empathy. The model rival technique involves two trainers, one to give instructions, and one to model correct and incorrect responses and to act as the student's rival for the trainer's attention; the model and trainer also exchange roles so that the student sees that the process is fully interactive. The student, in this case, a middle-aged parrot, tries to reproduce the correct behavior. So far, results using this learning technique with small groups of autistic children, taught by Diane Sherman, PhD, in Monterey, CA, have been very promising, said Dr. Pepperberg. "This kind of research is changing the way we think about birds and intelligence, but it also helps us break down barriers to learning in humans--and the importance of such strides cannot be underestimated," said Dr. Pepperberg. Read more in the Journal of Comparative Psychology On Jan 10, 7:43 am, Isparklaria <[email protected]> wrote: > This is old news, but since we are discussing an article that includes > language at the book club, I though it both interesting and relevant. > It also applies to the second article we are reading. Bird brains are > small and also, if I am not mistaken, not all that complex. It is weak > evidence that there is more to this than their brains. > > Actually after viewing the video I am wondering if this has been > confimed. The only number I heard alex say was two. He may be making > the sound two with out understanding. I want to believe this video is > not bogus, but it will take some more evidence to dispell my doubts. > It is worth watching the vid and reading the article anyway since it > is provoking. In the meantime I will search some more on the > internet. > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6KvPN_Wt8I&feature=related > > http://www.birdminds.com/CongoGrey.html > > Few birds achieve more distinction than Alex, the famous subject of > Irene Pepperberg's language experiments. > > Named "Bird of the year" by the New York Times after his death in > 2007, Alex learned thousands of words, expressed understanding of > numbers, could identify objects, colors, shapes, and sometimes showed > a certain peevishness about cooperating that made him seem even more > human. > > Nor are his achievements exceptional. People who have worked with > African (or Congo) Greys know their remarkable abilities go far beyond > their capacity to imitate human speech. > > My own family has included an African Grey named Max for many years, > and I can personally attest to their amazing skills. These birds can > perfectly articulate long sentences -- even months after hearing them > only once. (For example, singing the first line of "Jingle-Bells" in > April. The bird can carry a pretty good tune.) After heaing the > telephone ring, they will say "Hello" at exactly the same time I do. > In fact, by anticipating many words that I make in casual > conversation, Max makes me realize how stupid and stereotyped most > human speech actually sounds. > > Max seems to enjoy showing off -- making the noise of a soda can tab a > fraction of a second before it actually happens. The bird often will > say "bye-bye" when I get ready to leave -- putting on my coat, picking > up my car keys, or even walking around looking for them. This is no > random utterance, but a phrase that is always spoken in the > appropriate context of someone leaving. Even more remarkably -- the > bird on one occasion was able to show it understood the exact meaning > of the phrase. > > Some months after we added a nest box to the cage, Max laid an egg > (instantly changing her name to "Maxine.") When we discovered the egg, > the whole family crowded around the box to see -- much to Max's > dismay. Max stuck her head out and in a loud, fierce voice spoke -- > "Bye-bye!" --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/memphisfreethoughtalliance?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
