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Senior Seminar Agp Pres

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This document discusses African grey parrots and their remarkable cognitive abilities. It summarizes research on Alex, a famous African grey studied by Dr. Irene Pepperberg, who demonstrated linguistic and cognitive skills comparable to a human child. The document also summarizes two studies. One found that parrots can create new labels by combining existing vocalizations. The other found that male birds with more complex songs are more successful at attracting mates.

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The Grey Parrot Paradox: Braniac or Bird-Brained? Meredith Dorfner Conservation and Wildlife Management 1
INTRODUCTION A Brief History General Information Behavior Alex the parrot and Dr. Pepperberg Case Study #1 Case Study #2 Future Outlook Conclusion 1
HISTORY Pets for more than 4,000 years Egyptian hieroglyphics Ancient Greeks & Romans King Henry VIII Portuguese sailors 2
3
GENERAL INFORMATION Psittacus erithacus Two recognized subspecies Congo African Grey Timneh African Grey Herbivorous Long lived Relatively rare 4
Congo African Grey Parrot Timneh African Grey Parrot 5
6
BEHAVIOR Highly intelligent Remarkable cognitive abilities Duplicate human speech Bond to one person Can be temperamental and neurotic 7
8
BRAIN SIMILARITIES 9
DR. IRENE M. PEPPERBERG Brandeis University Professor of psychology Research scientist Harvard University Lecturer More than 30 years experience Fundamentals of animal communication First to work with non-humans African Grey Parrots Cognitive and communicative abilities 10
11
ALEX 1976-2007 Avian Learning Experiment Randomly chosen Central subject of studies Emotional and intellectual equivalent of a human child 12
13
Grey Parrots Do Not Always Parrot: The Roles of Imitation and Phonological Awareness in the Creation of New Labels From Existing Vocalizations Brandeis University Department of Psychology Dr. Irene M. Pepperberg 2007 14
THE MODEL/RIVAL TECHNIQUE Two trainers Instructor Model/Rival Student must reproduce correct behavior Phonemes 15
VIDEO The Model/Rival Technique Extraordinary Animals - Parrot Genius http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzKcaaRu8iE 16
SUBJECTS Arthur, age 3 1/2 One year of M/R training Four referential labels Alex, age 27 Twenty-six years of M/R training Large variety of labels 17
PROCEDURE Previous Model/Rival Technique training Birds trained on the new word spool and its meaning Audio taped with microphone Translated into sonograms 18
RESULTS Both learned to say spool to refer to wooden or plastic bobbins just got there in different ways! Arthur: whistle + /p/ + vowel sounds = whistle-p-ool Alex: /s/ + pause + wool = s-wool eventually became spool 19
SONOGRAM 20
Why have birds developed this ability? 21
Vocal Performance Influences Female Response to Male Bird Song: An Experimental Test by Barbara Ballentine, Jermey Hymen and Stephen Nowicki Duke University Department of Biology 2004 22
PROCEDURE Captured Swamp Sparrows Wide variety of males songs recorded varied in quality trill rate used as point of reference Played repeatedly for females reactions documented 23
TRILL RATE 24
RESULTS Sexy Songs are better songs! Complexity = Virility = Fertility 25
CONCLUSION Make more copies! Advanced behavior Not uniquely human Dependent on learned experience Noises of purpose and meaning Not just parroting! 26
POSSIBILITIES Model/Rival Technique Autistic Children Language Numerical concepts Empathy Communicative competence in others Reconsideration of evolutionary paths Robotics Technology 27
ALEXS LEGACY 28
29
REFERENCES 1. Ballantine B, Hyman J, Nowicki S. 2004. Vocal performance influences female response to male bird song: An Experimental Test . Behavioral Ecology. Vol. 15 1:163-168. 2. Jarvis ED. 2007. Neural systems for vocal learning in birds and humans: a synopsis. Journal of Ornithology. 48:35-44. 3. Jarvis ED. 2006. Evolution of vocal learning systems in birds and humans. Kaas J, editor. Evolutions of Nervous Systems. 2:213-228. 4. Jarvis ED. 2006. Selection for and against vocal learning in birds and mammals. Ornithological Science. 5:5-14. 5. Pepperberg IM. 1994. Vocal learning in grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus): effects of social interaction, reference, and context. The Auk. 111(2):300-313. 6. Pepperberg IM. 2007. Grey parrots do not always parrot: the roles of imitation and phonological awareness in the creation of new labels from existing vocalizations. Language Sciences 29: 1-13. 7. Pepperberg IM. 2002. Cognitive and communicative abilities in grey parrots. Current Directions of Psychological Directions. Vol 2, No 3 83-87. 8. Phan ML, Pyette CL, Vicario, DS. 2006. Early auditory experience generates long-lasting memories that may subserve vocal learning in songbirds. PNAS 4: 1088-1093. 9. The Alex Foundation [Internet]. The Alex Foundation Research Publications: 2009 [cited March 25, 2010]. Available at http://www.alexfoundation.org/support_research.html. 10. YouTube [Internet]. Extraordinary Animals Parrot Genius: 2009 [cited April 3, 2010]. Available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzKcaaRu8iE. 30

More Related Content

Senior Seminar Agp Pres

  • 1. The Grey Parrot Paradox: Braniac or Bird-Brained? Meredith Dorfner Conservation and Wildlife Management 1
  • 2. INTRODUCTION A Brief History General Information Behavior Alex the parrot and Dr. Pepperberg Case Study #1 Case Study #2 Future Outlook Conclusion 1
  • 3. HISTORY Pets for more than 4,000 years Egyptian hieroglyphics Ancient Greeks & Romans King Henry VIII Portuguese sailors 2
  • 4. 3
  • 5. GENERAL INFORMATION Psittacus erithacus Two recognized subspecies Congo African Grey Timneh African Grey Herbivorous Long lived Relatively rare 4
  • 6. Congo African Grey Parrot Timneh African Grey Parrot 5
  • 7. 6
  • 8. BEHAVIOR Highly intelligent Remarkable cognitive abilities Duplicate human speech Bond to one person Can be temperamental and neurotic 7
  • 9. 8
  • 11. DR. IRENE M. PEPPERBERG Brandeis University Professor of psychology Research scientist Harvard University Lecturer More than 30 years experience Fundamentals of animal communication First to work with non-humans African Grey Parrots Cognitive and communicative abilities 10
  • 12. 11
  • 13. ALEX 1976-2007 Avian Learning Experiment Randomly chosen Central subject of studies Emotional and intellectual equivalent of a human child 12
  • 14. 13
  • 15. Grey Parrots Do Not Always Parrot: The Roles of Imitation and Phonological Awareness in the Creation of New Labels From Existing Vocalizations Brandeis University Department of Psychology Dr. Irene M. Pepperberg 2007 14
  • 16. THE MODEL/RIVAL TECHNIQUE Two trainers Instructor Model/Rival Student must reproduce correct behavior Phonemes 15
  • 17. VIDEO The Model/Rival Technique Extraordinary Animals - Parrot Genius http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzKcaaRu8iE 16
  • 18. SUBJECTS Arthur, age 3 1/2 One year of M/R training Four referential labels Alex, age 27 Twenty-six years of M/R training Large variety of labels 17
  • 19. PROCEDURE Previous Model/Rival Technique training Birds trained on the new word spool and its meaning Audio taped with microphone Translated into sonograms 18
  • 20. RESULTS Both learned to say spool to refer to wooden or plastic bobbins just got there in different ways! Arthur: whistle + /p/ + vowel sounds = whistle-p-ool Alex: /s/ + pause + wool = s-wool eventually became spool 19
  • 21. SONOGRAM 20
  • 22. Why have birds developed this ability? 21
  • 23. Vocal Performance Influences Female Response to Male Bird Song: An Experimental Test by Barbara Ballentine, Jermey Hymen and Stephen Nowicki Duke University Department of Biology 2004 22
  • 24. PROCEDURE Captured Swamp Sparrows Wide variety of males songs recorded varied in quality trill rate used as point of reference Played repeatedly for females reactions documented 23
  • 26. RESULTS Sexy Songs are better songs! Complexity = Virility = Fertility 25
  • 27. CONCLUSION Make more copies! Advanced behavior Not uniquely human Dependent on learned experience Noises of purpose and meaning Not just parroting! 26
  • 28. POSSIBILITIES Model/Rival Technique Autistic Children Language Numerical concepts Empathy Communicative competence in others Reconsideration of evolutionary paths Robotics Technology 27
  • 30. 29
  • 31. REFERENCES 1. Ballantine B, Hyman J, Nowicki S. 2004. Vocal performance influences female response to male bird song: An Experimental Test . Behavioral Ecology. Vol. 15 1:163-168. 2. Jarvis ED. 2007. Neural systems for vocal learning in birds and humans: a synopsis. Journal of Ornithology. 48:35-44. 3. Jarvis ED. 2006. Evolution of vocal learning systems in birds and humans. Kaas J, editor. Evolutions of Nervous Systems. 2:213-228. 4. Jarvis ED. 2006. Selection for and against vocal learning in birds and mammals. Ornithological Science. 5:5-14. 5. Pepperberg IM. 1994. Vocal learning in grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus): effects of social interaction, reference, and context. The Auk. 111(2):300-313. 6. Pepperberg IM. 2007. Grey parrots do not always parrot: the roles of imitation and phonological awareness in the creation of new labels from existing vocalizations. Language Sciences 29: 1-13. 7. Pepperberg IM. 2002. Cognitive and communicative abilities in grey parrots. Current Directions of Psychological Directions. Vol 2, No 3 83-87. 8. Phan ML, Pyette CL, Vicario, DS. 2006. Early auditory experience generates long-lasting memories that may subserve vocal learning in songbirds. PNAS 4: 1088-1093. 9. The Alex Foundation [Internet]. The Alex Foundation Research Publications: 2009 [cited March 25, 2010]. Available at http://www.alexfoundation.org/support_research.html. 10. YouTube [Internet]. Extraordinary Animals Parrot Genius: 2009 [cited April 3, 2010]. Available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzKcaaRu8iE. 30

Editor's Notes

  • #4: Parrots kept as pets over 4,000 years agoClearly depicted Egyptian hieroglyphics depict parrots being kept as petsAncient Greeks & Romans kept African Grey Parrots as pets and prized them for their ability to talkKing Henry VIII of England had an African Grey as a petPortuguese sailors kept them as companions on long sea voyages
  • #6: Scientific Name: Psittacuserithacus (Psittacidae true parrot)Two recognized subspeciesCongo African Grey - (P. erithacuserithacus)Timneh African Grey - (P. erithacustimneh)Rainforest of Central and Western AfricaGuinea-Bissau east to Kenya and Tanzania, and south to Angola Timneh restricted to western part of rangeOften near oil-palms on which they like to feedHerbivorous - seeds on a variety of fruits, nuts and seeds (Oils Palm)Average lifespan 50-60 yearsrarer than previously believeduplisted from a species of Least Concern to Near Threatened in the 2007 IUCN Red Listrecent analysis suggests that up to 21% of the global population may be taken from the wild annuallyprimarily for the pet trade.
  • #7: Congo African Grey (P. erithacuserithacus) -Average 12- 14 inches in length -Predominantly grey -Black Beak -Bright Red tail feathersTimneh African Grey - (P. erithacustimneh) -Predominantly grey -Slightly smaller at 9-11 inches in length -Lighter colored beak -Darker maroon colored tail feathers
  • #8: endemic to primary and secondary rainforest of West and Central Africa
  • #9: Require constant stimulationCognitive abilities on par with that of a small childBegin talking around one year of age, some never talkNot only parrot capable of speech butGreys have an uncanny ability to mimic human speech-wide variety of sounds with amazing accuracyGenerally bond to just one person-very jealous-tend to be shy or timid around strangers Congos in particular Can be neurotic and temperamental behavioral issues when boredfeather plucking
  • #10: Examples of feather pluckingChest onlyMore advanced, full body
  • #11: Parrots, hummingbirds AND songbirdsSimilarity of the structures more important than their location in the brain:Circuitry (internal structures) -appears to be a fundamental feature -contributes to the production of: 1) complex cognitive functions 2) possibly to the associated experience of higher-level consciousness
  • #12: Animal cognition, language, communication -specifically with African Grey Parrots to determine their cognitive and communicative abilities -compare their abilities with those of great apes, marine mammals, and young childrenWorked intensively with a Alex (Arthur (Wort), Griffin) -set out to show that their vocal behavior has many of the characteristics of human language
  • #13: Alex, Arthur, Griffin
  • #14: Alex = Avian Learning Experiment-Central subject of Pepperbergs studies-Purchased at pet store in Chicago in 1977 (randomly)Previously believed that needed a large primate brain to solve complex problemsParrots merely mimickingEmotional/Intellectual equivalent human child-Language abilities of two-year-Problem solving ability of five-year-150+ words -Identify 50 objects-Recognize quantities up to six, including zero-Could distinguish seven colors and five shapes-Understood several concepts of size and positionUnfortunately, his full potential was not realized by the time he died on Sepetember 6, 2007
  • #15: Alex in color id and number selection exp.
  • #16: PURPOSE - understands that his labels are comprised of individual units that can be recombined in new ways to create a novel referential vocalization. That he can: -uses English labels referentially -understands howlabels created from independent sounds sounds ->words -> phrases
  • #17: Two Trainers:-One to give instructions-One to model both correct and incorrect responses-Also acts as the student's rival for the trainer's attentionPhonemes- sounds that comprise words - hoped could conceptually relate an English written word with the spoken word.
  • #18: Reason for use of video-to show clear example of M/R Technique, easier to understand this wayVIDEO @ 7:25http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzKcaaRu8iEBriefly summarize video afterwards-You can see that..
  • #19: Could identify, request, refuse, categorize, quantify large number of objects
  • #20: Arthur
  • #21: after one year of ocassional use, he spontaneously produced the word spool no intermediary formsoddly Alex never knew the sound /sp/
  • #22: Physical representations of sound (image)Used to identify phonetic sounds-analyze the cries of animalLook different
  • #23: Many scientists believe that this developed in order to attract more/better mates (Sexy Songs)Not just parrots mimic (many species of song bird)Vocal learning (different from auditory learning) produce actual sound being heardDog may learn a command (stay), but will never say it backNext experiment provides some evidence
  • #24: PURPOSE - Provide evidence that female Swamp Sparrow uses vocal performance to:assess the quality of a potential mate that the ability of a male to sing more challenging or sexy song is indicator to the female of male condition
  • #25: 34 male Swamp Sparrows10 female Swamp SparrowsCaptured in Crawford County, PennsylvaniaSongs recorded from males -both high and low quality-Trill shake, alternation between low and high notes (PLAY)Played repeatedly for femalesReactions were documented over two day period
  • #26: Variation in song more appealing!Trill rate measured in terms of number of syllables produced per second -3 song types from one sparrow two, three and four distinct tones respectively -each comprising a single, repeatable syllable
  • #27: Verified thatsongs of the more exceptionally talented males preferred by the females -Females preferhigh-performance song typesSupports hypothesis that females Swamp Sparrows may use vocal performance to asses males in context of mate choiceExemplifying the main purpose of a good speaker/singer -difficulty may be determined by complexity as well as volume -likely reflects on future paternity volume of male -corresponds with mating preferences in several species
  • #28: Happens in several languagesProve imitation is a complex/advanced behavior worthy of further investigationNot just Parroting, but an advanced learning skill
  • #29: Questioning general evolutionCommunicative competence in special needs peopleSome researchers believe thatM/R -promise for teaching autistic -other learning-disabled children difficulty learning language numerical concepts empathy *Training with kids already exceeded expectations.
  • #30: Based out of Brandeis in Waltham, MassGoals: -support research -expand the base of knowledge ofcognitive/communicative abilities of parrots -reinforceintelligent beingsFindings will be used to encourage -responsible ownership of parrots -conservation and preservation of parrots in the wild -veterinary research into the psychological diseases and care of these birdsMemory of Alexwill live on -accomplish its mission to improve the lives of all parrots worldwide