Alex the gray parrot was no average bird . The subject of a thirty - class investigation into avian knowledge , by the time he died in 2007 , numerous scientific publications had pointed to Alex as proof that a bird ’s numerical abilities could be on equality with — and even outmatch — those of chimp and other non - human primate .
Now , the results of the Alex ’s last experiment have been published — and the determination are more compelling than ever .
Alex ’s mathematical art has been well document . The parrot could measure set of up to eight items ; identify and correctly regulate Arabic numerals from 1—8 ; and even sum two set of objects present one after the other , so long as their gist sum was less than or equal to six .
But an article published in the latest issue of Animal Cognition by creature psychologist Irene Pepperberg — who studied and worry for Alex for over three decades — suggests that Alex was able of even more impressive numerical feats .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=604QvpHDrec
The study was designed to further examine two of Alex ’s cognitive abilities . The first involved lend Arabic number , the second require Alex to sum up three set of objects ( as controvert to two , as in previous studies ) presented one after the other . In this 2nd experimentation , objects were shown to Alex and immediately hide under a cup — in other words , it was on Alex to pay attention to the items present to him , think of their quantities , execute the summation , and then vocally describe the exact total quantity . ( The experiment was similar to the one seen in the clip evidence here , only Alex was shown three quantity or else of two . )
In the Arabic numeral accession task , Alex indicated the correct sum 9 out of 12 times . In the three - set , sequential improver test , Alex squawked the right result 8 out of 10 time .
Unfortunately , Alex was only able-bodied to complete one turn of each project before he died — a fact that patently calls the validity of these finding into question . Pepperberg acknowledge this in the paper , but note that Alex ’s accuracy was , in fact , statistically significant — due particularly to the fact that the tasks were new to him ; i.e. his performance could not be chalk up to practise structured around those task , specifically . Adapting and responding to novel post was not rare for Alex , who would often unite words from his broad vocabulary to come up with description for objects he ’d never pick up before .
The experimentation serve to reinforce Alex ’s standing as one of only two non - humans that have demonstrated an ability to present the time value of a summed exercise set . The other animal to do so was a Pan troglodytes refer Sheba — who , it bear mention , could only sum stage set to a aggregate of four , compare to Alex ’s six .
“ I wish that Alex had go longer and I recollect this is an significant study because it show what he could do and where he was go , ” Pepperberg told Nature News .
“ These brains can do , if not incisively what an grownup human can do , really advanced behaviour that nobody carry them to be subject of . ”
Pepperberg ’s inquiry is publish inAnimal Cognition . interpret more onNature News .
Top imagevia .
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