April 2, 2014

Study finds pigeons and other animals, like humans, can place everyday things in categories



Great minds think alike

Study finds pigeons and other animals, like humans, can place everyday things in categories

Pinecone or pine nut? Friend or foe? Distinguishing between the two requires that we pay special attention to the telltale characteristics of each. And as it turns out, us humans aren’t the only ones up to the task.

According to researchers at the University of Iowa, pigeons share our ability to place everyday things in categories. And, like people, they can hone in on visual information that is new or important and dismiss what is not.