NEW STUDY REVEALS THAT CROWS UNDERSTAND GEOMETRY WHICH WAS A SKILL ONLY THOUGHT TO BE POSSESSED BY HUMANS

Crows are regarded as one of the smartest animals in the world, along with chimps, dolphins, and dogs. According to previous studies, these birds are actually more capable than the typical 5- to 7-year-old child in creating and using tools, vocally counting to four, differentiating between human faces and voices, and even understanding the notion of water displacement. Another feather in the cap has been found by a recent study: these intelligent birds might be able to comprehend basic geometry, a talent previously believed to be exclusive to humans.

The study, which was published last week in Science Advances, claims that carrion crows can identify "geometric regularity," or characteristics like symmetry, parallel lines, and right angles. Researchers used a digital screen in a lab to show the birds different forms, such as squares, stars, and crescents, in order to ascertain this. The birds were urged to peck at the material with their beaks when they came across shapes of various complexity, arranged into modules of six, as if they were playing a computer game. For instance, the bird would be rewarded with a mealworm or bird seed pellet if it could spot the single star among five squares.

Neurophysiologist and research co-author Andreas Nieder told NPR, "At first, we offered some quite visibly different figures, like five moons and one flower." Crows were able to identify the outliers despite the game being more familiar and the shapes becoming more intricate. In an interview with Scientific American, Nieder said, "They could tell us, for example, if they observed a figure that was just not a square, slightly distorted, among all the other squares." Without our further training, they could actually do this on their own and distinguish the outlier shapes based on geometric distinctions.

According to Nieder, no animal had so far "demonstrated [the capacity] of perceiving geometric regularity." Regardless of training, a baboon did not even demonstrate this skill, according to another recent study.

Mathias Sablé-Meyer, a cognitive neuroscientist who contributed to the baboon study, told NPR, "Baboons are so much closer to us and we trained them so much more." "I wouldn't have anticipated crows to do it when I couldn't get the baboons to do it."

However, they were successful in doing so; however, scientists are still unsure of the precise reason why crows have acquired this skill. Perhaps the paper serves as a reflection, aiding in their orientation and navigation while in flight. Or maybe it helps them in their quest for food or a partner?

"Ultimately, from a biological perspective, all of these abilities have evolved because they offer a reproductive or survival advantage," Nieder stated. Nieder and his colleagues aim to find additional creatures with this ability in the future. "It is now untrue to say that it is unique to humans," he said. "This area of research is only now opening."