Function and flexibility of object exploration in kea and New Caledonian crows.

ABSTRACT: A range of non-human animals frequently manipulate and explore objects in their environment, which may enable them to learn about physical properties and potentially form more abstract concepts of properties such as weight and rigidity. Whether animals can apply the information learned during their exploration to solve novel problems, however, and whether they actually change their exploratory behaviour to seek functional information about objects have not been fully explored. We allowed kea (Nestor notabilis) and New Caledonian crows (Corvus moneduloides) to explore sets of novel objects both before and after encountering a task in which some of the objects could function as tools. Following this, subjects were given test trials in which they could choose among the objects t

SUBMITTER: Lambert ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5627108 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature