Crows Possess Vocal Counting Abilities
A groundbreaking study has unveiled the astonishing ability of carrion crows to count out loud. This remarkable discovery marks the first definitive evidence of animals employing distinct vocalizations for counting, a skill previously thought to be exclusive to humans.
The researchers trained three crows to associate various visual (Arabic numerals) and auditory (instrument sounds) cues with specific numbers ranging from one to four. Through a series of trials, the crows learned to produce the corresponding number of caws in response to these cues.
驚くべきことに、カラスは正確にカラスを鳴き、プロンプトに対応する正しい数のカラスを鳴き、偶然をはるかに上回る確率で鳴きました。間違った回答をした場合でも、1と4のように遠く離れているのではなく、3と4のように比較的近い数字の間違いであることがよくありました。
The researchers suggest that the crows’ counting skills mirror those of human toddlers, who often rely on vocalizations of numbers rather than symbols during their early stages of numerical understanding. This finding may provide insights into the evolutionary origins of true counting, where numbers are integrated into a symbolic system.
This groundbreaking study deepens our understanding of animal cognition and provides compelling evidence for the remarkable numeracy abilities of crows. Their ability to count out loud further highlights the complexity and intelligence of the animal kingdom.
