‘Aesop's fable’ experiments demonstrate trial-and-error learning in birds, but no causal understanding

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• 作者：Stefano Ghirlanda^a ; ^b ; ^c ; ^d ; ^{drghirlanda@gmail.com} ; Johan Lind^d
• 关键词：Aesop's fable experiment ; causal cognition ; causal understanding ; corvid ; trial-and-error learning
• 刊名：Animal Behaviour
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：January 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：123
• 期：Complete
• 页码：239-247
• 全文大小：831 K
• 卷排序：123

文摘

Tests of ‘Aesop's fable’ present subjects with functional vs nonfunctional choices. Results may suggest that some corvids understand properties of water displacement. We found that trial-and-error learning often explains birds' performance. Stimulus generalization/genetic predisposition may also explain performance. We propose modifying existing experiments to better probe causal understanding.