Most humans think of numbers as being ranged along a horizontal line, called the mental number line (MNL), with smaller values located to the left and larger values to the right. Relativity is a fundamental characteristic of the MNL: for example, in the numerical range of 1–9, 9 is located on the right, whereas inContinueContinue reading “Chicks go left for less, right for more”
Tag Archives: learning
Has domestication made dogs dumber?
Results of a new study evaluating animals’ ability to create and compare mental representations of quantities of food suggest that domesticated dogs might have limited information-processing skills compared with wolves, their closest wild cousins. The findings are consistent with a hypothesis that domestication has altered information processing in dogs by attenuating the selective pressures thatContinueContinue reading “Has domestication made dogs dumber?”
Beer boosts brainpower—but only in the young
Flavonoids are compounds found in many plants whose nutritional benefits and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects have been widely studied. The hops used to make beer contain a flavonoid called xanthohumol, which can help to control body weight and blood sugar in a rat model of obesity. New findings from researchers at Oregon State University (Corvallis)ContinueContinue reading “Beer boosts brainpower—but only in the young”
A new way to measure canine welfare
Animal welfare science focuses on assessing and maximizing animals’ quality of life. In the research context, improving the welfare of laboratory animals is a high priority. To this end, objective measures of animal welfare are greatly needed. One way to evaluate welfare is to consider an animal’s affective state, which can be assessed indirectly byContinueContinue reading “A new way to measure canine welfare”
Passive spatial learning in rats
Results of a new study by scientists at Ruhr University Bochum (Germany) suggest that passive viewing of spatial information (such as on television or computer screens) can activate learning mechanisms and may interfere with consolidation of information learned via active exploration. Anne Kemp and Denise Manahan-Vaughan, who carried out the study, speculate that increasing useContinueContinue reading “Passive spatial learning in rats”
They may laugh, but can they count?
Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), or laughing hyenas, live in complex clans in which subgroups form and dissolve frequently and inter-group conflicts are common. This type of social structure is believed by some researchers to encourage the development of cognitive skills and has led them to wonder about cognition in hyenas. Sarah Benson-Amram (Michigan State University,ContinueContinue reading “They may laugh, but can they count?”
Captive rooks master tool use
Subverting some popular thoughts on tool use and physical intelligence, a group of captive rooks has shown a remarkable capacity to modify and use various tools. Rooks (Corvus frugilegus) are not known to use tools in the wild, although they are closely related to New Caledonian crows (Corvus moneduloides), which are habitual tool users. LabContinueContinue reading “Captive rooks master tool use”
Capuchin monkeys choose the right tool
Selecting an appropriate tool is key to the success of many tasks, and the development of this ability is typically thought to be restricted to humans and apes. But a new study shows that wild bearded capuchin monkeys can appreciate the properties of different stones and select the best one to use as a tool.ContinueContinue reading “Capuchin monkeys choose the right tool”
Rodents rake in rewards
In new research aimed at identifying brain changes that underlie the development of tool-use ability, scientists have taught captive rodents to use tools. This is the first report of such training in rodents. Atsushi Iriki and colleagues at the Brain Science Institute (RIKEN, Saitama, Japan) trained a group of five degus (Octodon degus), small rodentsContinueContinue reading “Rodents rake in rewards”
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