A growing body of recent research is showing how extraordinarily smart many different animal species can be. It exposes their superhero ability to accomplish feats completely disconnected from their overall ecological requirements. Scarlett R. Howard sheds light on this fascinating exploration into animal intelligence in her new piece here. The Conversation has republished her original, very good work. New research published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences investigates how some animals approach challenges with no obvious survival pay-off. This groundbreaking research deepens our appreciation for the many forms of intelligence found in species around the world.
The researchers caution that not all primates—notably including humans—have the skill to make mathematical computations with Arabic numerals. Its cognitive development is equal to that of a two-year-old child. In people, even children as young as 24 months old can find missed items when their locations are shown in pictures. The differences and similarities between human and primate intelligence have long captivated the imagination. To further explore how cognitive skills develop and manifest in a variety of species.
The Cognitive Skills of Primates
Primates have historically been the model of choice for cognitive research, spurred by their close genetic relationship to humans. According to recent research, monkeys and other primates possess the ability to perform simple arithmetic equations with Arabic numbers. This newfound ability isn’t just a reflection of their understanding of math—it’s a reflection of their abstract thought development.
This degree of cognitive sophistication is exceptional when held up to even human toddlers. Usually, that’s when toddlers begin to understand the beginnings of these rules, so likely by age two. This parallel raises intriguing questions about the cognitive development of different species and the evolutionary factors that may have influenced these skills.
It’s a hot time right now in research on primate cognition. In the process, they are revealing all sorts of ways these creatures demonstrate intelligence that exceeds mere instinct. Even the most seemingly banal or non-ecologically valid tasks could offer lessons about the origins and development of our cognitive skills.
Innovative Behaviors in Birds
In Australia, cockatoos have been observed exhibiting a unique behavior: they have learned to open rubbish bins in search of food. This behavior not only serves to showcase their complex cognitive capabilities but emphasizes the idea of ecologically irrelevant tasks. Gathering food through foraging is an important part of life. The ability to avoid human-made obstacles such as trash cans is just one example of a real and impressive behavioral adaptation that can’t be solely explained by instinct.
These thinking birds are capable of sophisticated cognitive operations to exercise control over their surroundings. It’s their ability to draw lessons from one context and apply them to another unexpected context that shows an extraordinary cognitive flexibility. Researchers are fascinated by how such behaviors can be classified and studied, as they offer a deeper understanding of avian intelligence and its ecological implications.
This research into cockatoo behavior highlights the critical need to study animal cognition in more naturalistic environments. Researchers watch to see how these birds adapt to human development. This hands-on activity helps participants understand how intelligence might develop to match rapid changes in the environment.
Bumblebees as Unexpected Learners
Common misperceptions have led bumblebees—despite being the proverbial dumb jock of the insect world—to prove as adept learners as animals in higher cognitive domains. New discoveries show that these little marbles of muscle can be trained to learn how to tug on a string to open doors for tasty morsels inside. Such behavior is an example of bumblebees having a remarkable degree of problem-solving ability as we had not given them credit for.
The capacity to learn from experience cuts across almost all classes of life—not just higher mammals, but as a recent study done on insects has demonstrated. Bumblebees solve problems that look silly in a context that matters, but require the cognitive heavy-lifting. This effective flexibility increases their foraging tactics tremendously. The science behind these abilities further upholds the notion that intelligence can appear in all shapes and sizes throughout the animal kingdom.
Scarlett R. Howard’s feature piece draws attention to these exciting discoveries and the world of animal cognition that remains unexplored. Our science is only improved by understanding how animals learn and adapt. This wisdom informs conservation practices and helps ecological managers with more effective management tactics.