Object manufacture based on a memorized template: Goffin’s cockatoos attend to different model features

Abstract

Although several nonhuman animals have the ability to recognize and match templates in computerized tasks, we know little about their ability to recall and then physically manufacture specific features of mental templates. Across three experiments, Goffin cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana), a species that can use tools in captivity, were exposed to two pre-made template objects, varying in either colour, size (long or short) or shape (I or L-shaped), where only one template was rewarded. Birds were then given the opportunity to manufacture versions of these objects themselves. We found that all birds carved paper strips from the same colour material as the rewarded template, and half were also able to match the size of a template (long and short). This occurred despite the template being absent at test and birds being rewarded at random. However, we found no evidence that cockatoos could carve L-shaped pieces after learning that L-shaped templates were rewarded, though their manufactured strips were wider than in previous tests. Overall, our results show that Goffin cockatoos possess the ability to physically adjust at least the size dimension of manufactured objects relative to a mental template. This ability has previously only been shown in New Caledonian crows, where template matching was suggested as a potential mechanism allowing for the cumulative cultural transmission of tool designs. Our results show that within avian tool users, the ability to recreate a physical template from memory does not seem to be restricted to species that have cumulative tool cultures.

Recent developments in parrot cognition: a quadrennial update

“…Whether this showed a cognitive limit or was due to morphological restrictions (biting around a corner) could not be determined. Overall, the Goffin’s showed similar results as the New Caledonian crows (which were not tested in a shape condition in Jelbert et al 2018 ; Laumer et al 2021a ).…”

“…When reproducing properties of a previously seen object (for example while sketching a house) we have to remember essential aspects of this object and might form a mental template to do so. Laumer et al ( 2021a ) tested whether Goffin’s cockatoos can recall and recreate previously rewarded cardboard strip templates in a replication of a study on New Caledonian Crows ( Corvus moneduloides ; Jelbert et al 2018 ). Before each test, the subjects were trained to drop a piece of cardboard into a tube choosing either a particular color or length of strip or an L-shaped piece.…”

“…However, the species recently tested in the condition with crossed strings, failed, which is in line with most – but not all – previously tested species. Studies on the use of object properties and physical entities show for example that some parrots form mental templates of some object properties (Laumer et al 2021a ), are sensitive to liquid overconservation (Cornero et al 2020 ), discriminate based on weight (P. J. Lambert et al 2021 ), and may perceive the virtual and real world as a continuum (Bastos et al 2021c ). Tool use studies in recent years included new coincidental observations that were further thoroughly examined (O’Hara and Mioduszewska et al 2021 ; Bastos et al 2021a ).…”

Hooded crows (Corvus cornix) manufacture objects relative to a mental template

“…More recently, the capacity for mental template matching has been studied among another species, Goffin's cockatoos ( Cacatua goffiniana ) (Laumer et al 2021 ). Unlike New Caledonian crows, Goffin's cockatoos are not specialised tool users.…”

“…In the laboratory, these birds have shown the capacity for flexible tool use and manufacture (Auersperg et al 2012 , 2014 , 2017 ; Lambert et al 2015 , 2019 ; Beinhauer et al 2019 ; Habl and Auersperg 2017 ; Laumer et al 2016 , 2017 ; 2021 ; Osuna-Mascaró et al 2022 ; 2023 ). For example, they manufactured stick-type tools across three different materials, with each material requiring different manipulation patterns (Auersperg et al 2016 ) and can modify the specific feature (length) of the manufactured tools depending on the specific task demands (Auersperg et al 2018 ).…”