Color by Numbers and Numbers by Color(Animal intelligence)

The Alex Foundation ^ | Oct,24 .2006 | Dr. Pepperberg

[grjr21]

Alex is known for showing the world just how smart African Grey parrots are…and he’s known for breaking barrier after barrier in the world of animal intelligence. But now he’s achieved a feat that no other animal has ever achieved, a feat that we believe will wow the world—and it’s a feat he accomplished all by himself! Dr. Pepperberg’s newest paper, “Ordinality and Inferential Abilities of a Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus),” has just been published in this month’s Journal of Comparative Psychology. This paper outlines Alex’s newest achievement in number comprehension. We think it will amaze you as much as it amazes us. Alex now knows that the number of objects on a tray, six sticks for example, can be represented by the vocal label “six,” and that the written numeral “6” represents those objects as well as the vocal label. This may not sound too astonishing, but what he does with this knowledge is quite amazing--as is the story of how he reached his current level of understanding. It’s as easy as 1-2-3 For some time, Alex has been able to name the color of an item and he’s been able to count the number of objects presented to him. Alex’s math education also included being taught the vocal label of written number symbols, such as spoken label “five” for “5.”

When learning these verbal labels for the written number symbols, Alex learned them differently than we humans do. Human children are generally taught to count in an order of numbers, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on. Learning numbers in this manner automatically infers the order or numerical value of the numbers (their ordinality) by their placement. However, children may demonstrate that they can determine which number is bigger than the other simply by the number’s position in the order of the counting sequence, but they may not have a true understanding of the number’s value. Alex learned his written numerals in an “out of order” sequence, learning 3 and 4 first, then 2, 5, 6 and lastly, 1. Using refrigerator magnet numerals, Alex learned the names of number symbols using his knowledge of color. Dr. Pepperberg would ask (using the Model/Rival technique), “What number green?” when holding a green “4.” Or she would ask, “What color 5?” when holding a red number “5.” Prior to this, Alex had learned how to label the number of the objects in a set and even to perform this behavior for similar objects interspersed with different objects. For instance, when 4 red objects were placed among 6 blue objects, Alex was asked “how many red?” and he could correctly answer “four.” Consequently, Alex knew that the number of objects was represented by a vocal label that described that number. When Dr. Pepperberg combined all these skills into a number comprehension test for Alex, an amazing thing occurred. “Which bigger?” Out of Alex’s sight, a tray was prepared with either two refrigerator magnet numbers of different colors or a set of objects combined with one refrigerator magnet number, with the set of objects being one color and the number symbol being another color. For example, Alex was presented with three red objects and the number symbol “5.” Alex was then asked, “What color number is bigger (or smaller)?” And he answered correctly. This indicated that Alex understood that the single number symbol “5” represented a larger object set than the three objects sitting in front of him. This type of problem was alternated with other types of number comprehension tests. Also out of Alex’s sight, another type of tray was prepared, one with two different number symbols, each with a different color. These were presented to Alex, and he was again asked, “What color number is bigger (or smaller)?” And he would again answer correctly. An Unbelievable Understanding The last type of number comprehension challenge was especially revealing. Once again, out of Alex’s sight, a tray was prepared for his test. But this time, the two number symbols of different numerical value (and two different colors) had a different physical size. For instance, a larger “2” symbol would be placed next to a significantly smaller-sized number “5.” Alex would be asked the same question, “what color number is smaller (or bigger)?” He answered correctly with respect to the value of the symbol, not its physical size.

Alex decides which number is bigger

His responses in this test were nothing short of stupendous. Years prior to this, Alex had been taught to recognize physical mass as a qualifier for bigger or smaller. In past learning sessions, he had been asked to determine which key was bigger or smaller when presented with two keys of varying sizes. In this number comprehension test, rather than paying attention to the physical mass of the number symbol, Alex recognized the number as a symbol of numerical value. This proved that he has a true comprehension of the numerical value of a number symbol AND how that number value compared to the other—in short, he recognized ordinality. Alex’s Singular Accomplishment Why is this so amazing? One aspect that astounds us is that Alex made the connection himself. As Dr. Pepperberg says, “Alex demonstrated that he inferred the ordinal relations among his number symbols without direct training of the one-to-one correspondence between these numbers and their corresponding object sets, and without having been trained to recite the numerals in order.” Alex had first been taught the vocal label for set of objects, and had then been taught the vocal label for the number symbol. His agile avian brain made the leap of understanding that the same vocal label represented two very different concepts, a numerical value and the label of a symbol. But Alex made an even bigger leap when he understood that the vocal label for number symbol represented the numerical value of that same vocal label. Of equal importance is Alex’s grasp of the relations of numbers to each other. He realized their ordinality by their true numerical value. Alex surpasses chimpanzees in this respect. Chimpanzees can be trained to realize that a written number corresponds to a certain number of objects in a set, but they must be trained in a direct manner, by identifying the written numeral with the object set. A chimp’s understanding of ordinality was likewise based on a trained comprehension of the numeric symbol based on the number of objects in a set. We humans somehow expect chimpanzees to outperform all other species in assessments of animal intelligence, perhaps because they are so much like us in appearance and social behaviors. But the world must now take notice of this bird, this parrot named Alex—a creature so unlike us in appearance but so singular in his ability to assimilate information and draw his own conclusions. And most tellingly, the conclusions he draws prove that he has an intelligence that is comparable to and sometimes surpasses very young human children. What lies ahead for Alex as he progresses in mathematical concepts? Addition? Subtraction? Only through time, donations and the endeavors of Dr. Pepperberg and her staff will we be able to know what Alex can fully accomplish. But one thing is for sure. We’re sure Alex has more amazing feats in store for the rest of the world, and that these feats will once again prove the incredible intelligence of African Grey parrots.

[grjr21]

Can we train him to work the Polls.

How many dead voters ?

How many illegal aliens?

[Andy from Beaverton]

Watch this problem solving crow: http://youtube.com/watch?v=03ykewnc0oE

[Eagles Talon IV]

African Grey Parrots are superb mimics. Years ago (1970's) I owned a Pet Store that specialized in exotics (this was before they became tightly controlled)and among them had an African Grey as a mascot (not for sale). There was no sound or phrase he could not master within a few hours or at the most a couple of days.

We kept him up front by the check out counter and that is where the phone was. I cannot tell you how many times I would be in the back and would hear the phone ring and as I went to get it I would hear my own voice saying "Hello, (name of store), can I help you"? He would mimic dogs barking, cat's meowing, birds chirping, canaries singing, etc. Unfortunately one of my employees taught him the phrase, "You're an assh*le" and the bird would come out with the phrase at any time. Never once did anyone take offense at this and in fact all thought it was quite hilarious. I did put a small sign under his perch (no cage for this guy) that read "Beware, Marcus uses naughty language". Almost all who read the sign wanted me to make him swear.

Somehow I don't think the reaction today would be quite the same.

[rlmorel]

I went to the wedding of a friend's daugher in August, and just happened to be sitting next to Dr. Pepperberg (until now, when I read this article, I had no idea what her name was). When we struck up some conversation to pass the time and I asked her what she did for a living, she said she studies Animal Behavior...now...as far as conversation material, one has to admit, that is pretty fertile ground!

So she told me about "Alex", whom she has been working with for a long time (20-30 years!). She said it is like working with a willful teenager!

But that wasn't the most interesting story...she told me about a study she was doing on marine life at the New England Aquarium which kind of creeped me out.

Apparently, tropical fish began to disappear from their tanks, some of them quite expensive. The management surmised that someone on the staff was stealing them and selling them on the side, as has happened at some other aquariums. It can be quite lucrative, apparently.

So they set up a surveillance camera to catch the thief.

Sometime after the place was locked up and shut down, they saw some movement on the camera. On one of the tanks, the lid popped up, and...an octopus pulled itself out of its tank.

It slithered across the tops of the tanks to another tank, pulled the top off, reached inside with its tentacles and grabbed a fish, pulled its tentacles out, put the top back on the tank, went back to its own tank, went inside, pulled its own tank top back on, and had dinner!!!!!!!!

[rlmorel]

My dad was in the Navy, and one of the Chiefs who worked under him at one of his duty stations owned a Myna Bird. And it had a filthy mouth...

Its favorite phrase was "Son of a bitching dog!"

Somehow, it could never manage "Merry Christmas", one of its other phrases.

It would say "Merrrrryyyyyyyyyy..." and just stop there.

[rlmorel]

I will bet just as many people today would want to make him swear.

Human nature. I remember when desktop computers first gave people the ability to type something in and have the computer read it back...it seems like swear words were the only thing I ever heard them do!

[grjr21]

I have an Indian Ringneck while nowhere near A Grey in Intelligence still does some amazing things .
He can laugh like a human , but what amazes me is that he only laughs at the appropriate time.
He plays Peek-A- boo as well as any child.
He's fully flighted and if he makes a bad landing he'll look around to see if anybody saw it and then bow down his head in shame.
This is all from an animal with the brain the size of a shelled peanut

[rlmorel]

Now, I know crows are a pain in the ass sometimes, especially when they are having a caw fest outside your bedroom window on a Sunday morning...

But I like crows. They have balls. And, are pretty smart (for birds)

I love they way they play "chicken" with cars as they eat carrion in the middle of roads. I like to throw off their reckoning and watch em react when I steer towards them as they hop nonchalantly off to the shoulder.

But they know I am not going to leave the road and hit them...they just sit there.

[Verloona Ti]

I read an article somewhere online about an octopus at a giant outdoor aquarium (probably a Seaworld) that used to follow around the diver who was cleaning his tank. He was a large octopus, and the diver found this a little creepy. Every day the diver would go in, gather up debris into one spot, and when it was all gathered, put the debris in a sack and remove it, the octopus following him every "step" of the way. After about a month of this, the diver entered the tank-and discovered that the octopus had already gathered all the debris which would normally be gathered, and placed it all in the spot where it was normally placed for removal! After that, the octopus always had the debris ready for the diver, and a 30 minute cleaning job had been reduced to less than 3. I wish I had the link to the original story for you.

[Andy from Beaverton]

I had a pet crow as a kid. Incredibly smart! Ravens can live over 50 years.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

So your saying he's overqualified to be a poll worker in Palm Beach County?

[grjr21]

I wouldn't go that far.
But it does go to show you the difference between home schooled and a Public education.

[SunTzuWu]

Makes you wounder. Since birds are descended from ancient reptiles, the earth might be populated by sentient dinosaurs if the extinction event 65m years ago hadn't occurred. Alex shows remarkable potential.

[Savage Beast]

Animals are intelligent and emotionally sophisticated. Many clearly love and are affectionate. They also experience fear and pain. I do not kill or eat animals. My wife and I do not allow hunting on our property. We particularly avoid restaurants that serve lamb, veal, or foie gras.

We have a red-naped Amazon parrot. She is cantankerous and will snap or bite. A few years ago, she broke her leg in a flight accident. She was obviously in terrible pain, shaking, suffering, and unable to get comfortable on her perch. We put her in a box, lined with cotton, to make her as comfortable as possible, and took her to a veterinary specialist at the vet. school in another state, a journey of quite a few hours. The vet. examined her and set her leg in a cast. When enough time had elapsed for the break to heal, we took her back to the vet. to have the cast removed.

The remarkable thing is that throughout this entire ordeal, she never once snapped at us, the vet., or anyone else. Evidently, she knew that we were helping her, and she trusted us. She was as docile as a kitten.

After her broken leg had healed and she was comfortable again, she returned to her old cantankerous, snappy self. That's how she is now.

[Ghengis]

Certain Octopus species have evolved to living out of water for much of their lives. Check this type of octopus out.  

p.s. Read the site very carefully. ;-)

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I wouldn't [so far as saying he's overqualified.]

So you rate him as "well qualified"?

[grjr21]

Since birds are descended from ancient reptiles,



Sheee, Be carefull saying that aloud around here

[Erasmus]

When we struck up some conversation to pass the time and I asked her what she did for a living, she said she studies Animal Behavior...

I presume she came for the reception.

< }B^)

[doc30]

African grey Ping

[Eagles Talon IV]

Amazing story!! I understand Octopus (Octopi?)are very intelligent.