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Crows recognize geometric regularity

delete2025-04-11
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OA
AI
P
Philipp Schmidbauer
H
Hahn, Madita
A
Andreas Nieder *
DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adt3718delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
The perception of geometric regularity in shapes, a form of elementary Euclidean geometry, is a fundamental mathematical intuition in humans. We demonstrate this geometric understanding in an animal, the carrion crow. Crows were trained to detect a visually distinct intruder shape among six concurrent arbitrary shapes. The crows were able to immediately apply this intruder concept to quadrilaterals, identifying the one that exhibited differing geometric properties compared to the others in the set. The crows exhibited a geometric regularity effect, showing better performance with shapes featuring right angles, parallel lines, or symmetry over more irregular shapes. This performance advantage did not require learning. Our findings suggest that geometric intuitions are not specific to humans but are deeply rooted in biological evolution.
Keywords:
SYMMETRY
PREFERENCE
PERCEPTION

Journal

Science Advances cover
Science Advances
IF:
12.5
Papers:
2.0W
Citations:
18.1W

Organization

U
univ tu?bingen
Scholars:
777
Papers: 348
Citations: 1