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| Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2001): |
In search of king Solomon's ring: cognitive and communicative studies of Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus).
Full Abstract
During the past 24 years, I have used a modeling technique (M/R procedure) to train Grey parrots to use an allospecific code (English speech) referentially; I then use the code to test their cognitive abilities. The oldest bird, Alex, labels more than 50 different objects, 7 colors, 5 shapes, quantities to 6, 3 categories (color, shape, material) and uses 'no', 'come here', wanna go X' and 'want Y' (X and Y are appropriate location or item labels). He combines labels to identify, request, comment upon or refuse more than 100 items and to alter his environment. He processes queries to judge category, relative size, quantity, presence or absence of similarity/difference in attributes, and show label comprehension. He semantically separates labeling from requesting. He thus exhibits capacities once presumed limited to humans or nonhuman primates. Studies on this and other Greys show that parrots given training that lacks some aspect of input present in M/R protocols (reference, functionality, social interaction) fail to acquire referential English speech. Examining how input affects the extent to which parrots acquire an allospecific code may elucidate mechanisms of other forms of exceptional learning:
learning unlikely in the normal course of development but that can occur under certain conditions.Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel
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Author information
Author/s: Pepperberg, Irene M (IM);
Affiliation: The MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, Mass. 02139, USA. impepper(-atsign-)media.mit.edu
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Journal: Brain, behavior and evolution (Brain Behav Evol), published in Switzerland. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2002-; vol 59 (issue 1-2) : pp 54-67
Dates: Created 2002/07/04; Completed 2002/09/03; Revised 2006/11/15;
PMID: 12097860, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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