The evolution of intelligence in corvids and sensory cognition in humans and corvids
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Psychology
Abstract
PhD project strategic theme: Understanding the rules of life
Corvids are highly intelligent animals that display certain cognitive traits on a par with apes. Corvids have excellent eyesight and have been shown to demonstrate theory of mind like traits in visual tasks. This project will look at the importance of auditory information in these birds, as they utilise a large range of vocal cues being excellent mimics, they are expected to have acute auditory perception. A caching experiment was previously completed to probe the importance of auditory information when making decisions where to cache in the presence of a conspecific. Further experiments will utilise behavioural studies to test whether the birds trust their visual or auditory inputs more. The nature of these cognitive studies will vary with the seasonal changes in the birds. In autumn more caching studies may be used, whilst at other times outside breeding season cognitive tests investigating complexes inferences using cups will be used. Similar studies in human participants may be used in order to investigate the evolution of cognition.
Corvids are highly intelligent animals that display certain cognitive traits on a par with apes. Corvids have excellent eyesight and have been shown to demonstrate theory of mind like traits in visual tasks. This project will look at the importance of auditory information in these birds, as they utilise a large range of vocal cues being excellent mimics, they are expected to have acute auditory perception. A caching experiment was previously completed to probe the importance of auditory information when making decisions where to cache in the presence of a conspecific. Further experiments will utilise behavioural studies to test whether the birds trust their visual or auditory inputs more. The nature of these cognitive studies will vary with the seasonal changes in the birds. In autumn more caching studies may be used, whilst at other times outside breeding season cognitive tests investigating complexes inferences using cups will be used. Similar studies in human participants may be used in order to investigate the evolution of cognition.
