Department of Psychology, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
Anim Cogn. 2011 Jan;14(1):45-58. doi: 10.1007/s10071-010-0342-9. Epub 2010 Jul 18.
Keas, a species of parrots from New Zealand, are an interesting species for comparative studies of problem solving and cognition because they are known not only for efficient capacities for object manipulation but also for explorative and playful behaviors. To what extent are they efficient or explorative, and what cognitive abilities do they use? We examined how keas would solve several versions of artificial-fruit box problems having multiple locks. After training keas to remove a metal rod from over a Plexiglas lid that had to be opened, we exposed the birds to a variety of tasks having two or more locks. We also introduced a preview phase during which the keas had extended opportunity to look at the tasks before the experimenter allowed the birds to solve them, to examine whether the preview phase would facilitate the birds' performance on the tasks. In a large number of tests, the keas showed a strong trend to solve the tasks with no positive effect of previewing the tasks. When the tasks became complex, however, the keas corrected inappropriate responses more quickly when they had had chance to preview the problems than when they had not. The results suggest that the keas primarily used explorative strategies in solving the lock problems but might have obtained some information about the tasks before starting to solve them. This may reflect a good compromise of keas' trial-and-error tendency and their good cognitive ability that result from a selection pressure they have faced in their natural habitat.
新西兰的啄羊鹦鹉是一种非常有趣的鹦鹉物种，适合用于解决问题和认知能力的比较研究，因为它们不仅以高效的物体操纵能力而闻名，而且还具有探索性和嬉戏性的行为。它们在多大程度上具有高效性或探索性，以及它们使用哪些认知能力？我们研究了啄羊鹦鹉如何解决具有多个锁的人工水果盒问题的几种变体。在训练啄羊鹦鹉从必须打开的有机玻璃盖子上移除金属棒之后，我们让鸟类接触到各种具有两个或更多锁的任务。我们还引入了预览阶段，在此期间，啄羊鹦鹉有机会在实验者允许鸟类解决任务之前延长观察任务的时间，以检查预览阶段是否会促进鸟类在任务上的表现。在大量测试中，啄羊鹦鹉表现出强烈的解决任务的趋势，而预览任务并没有产生积极影响。但是，当任务变得复杂时，啄羊鹦鹉在有机会预览问题时比没有预览问题时更快地纠正不当反应。结果表明，啄羊鹦鹉主要使用探索性策略来解决锁定问题，但在开始解决问题之前，可能已经获得了有关任务的一些信息。这可能反映了啄羊鹦鹉在试错倾向和其良好认知能力之间的良好平衡，这是它们在自然栖息地中面临的选择压力的结果。
