Proficient performance of a conjunctive, recursive task by an African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus).
The comprehension skills of an African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus), Alex, were tested on a taks that included a conjunctive condition. For each trial, Alex was shown different collections of 7 items, each collection chosen from among 100 objects of various combinations of shapes, colors, and materials, and he was asked to provide (vocally) information about the specific instance of one category of an item that was uniquely defined by the conjunction of two other categories (e.g., "What color is the [object defined by shape and material]?"). Other objects exemplified one, but not both, of these defining categories. Alex responded with an accuracy of 76.5%, which indicated that he understood all the elements in the question, including the conjunctive condition, and that he used these elements to guide his search for the one object in the collection that provided the requested information.
Pepperberg
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Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, BioScience West, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003071:Cognition; D007360:Intelligence; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D010311:Parrots