title: Inference by Exclusion in Goffin Cockatoos (Cacatua goffini).
abstract: Inference by exclusion, the ability to base choices on the systematic exclusion of alternatives, has been studied in many nonhuman species over the past decade. However, the majority of methodologies employed so far are hard to integrate into a comparative framework as they rarely use controls for the effect of neophilia. Here, we present an improved approach that takes neophilia into account, using an abstract two-choice task on a touch screen, which is equally feasible for a large variety of species. To test this approach we chose Goffin cockatoos (Cacatua goffini), a highly explorative Indonesian parrot species, which have recently been reported to have sophisticated cognitive skills in the technical domain. Our results indicate that Goffin cockatoos are able to solve such abstract two-choice tasks employing inference by exclusion but also highlight the importance of other response strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Zoology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alice M I
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Auersperg
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bugnyar
authors.affiliation: Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D046410:Cockatoos / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010311:Parrots / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*