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Dr. Irene Pepperberg (born April 1, 1949, Brooklyn, New York) is a scientist noted for her studies in animal cognition, particularly in relation to parrots. She is an adjunct professor of psychology at Brandeis University and a lecturer at Harvard University. She is well known for her comparative studies into the cognitive fundamentals of language and communication, and was one of the first to try to extend work on language learning in animals other than humans (exemplified by the Washoe project) to a bird species. Dr. Pepperberg is also active in wildlife conservation, especially in relation to parrots. She is currently studying the differences in avian and mammalian brain function. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ...
1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ...
Brooklyn (named after the Dutch city Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. ...
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It has been suggested that True parrots be merged into this article or section. ...
The meaning of the word professor (Latin: one who claims publicly to be an expert) varies. ...
Psychology (from Greek: ψυχή, psukhē, spirit, soul; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is an academic/ applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. ...
Brandeis University is a private university in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. ...
Harvard University (incorporated as The President and Fellows of Harvard College) is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA and a member of the Ivy League. ...
Cognitive Psychology is the school of psychology that examines internal mental processes such as problem solving, memory, and language. ...
Communication allows people to exchange thoughts by one of several methods. ...
Washoe Washoe is a chimpanzee, currently living at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI) at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. ...
“Aves†redirects here. ...
The conservation movement is a political and social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including plant and animal species as well as their habitat for the future. ...
In animals the brain, or encephalon (Greek for in the head), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for thought. ...
Research work Although parrots have long been known for their capacities in vocal mimicry, Pepperberg set out to show that their vocal behavior could have the characteristics of human language. She worked intensively with a single African Grey Parrot, Alex, and reported that he acquired a large vocabulary and used it in a sophisticated way, which is often described as similar to that of a two year old child. Pepperberg and her colleagues have sought to show that Alex can differentiate meaning and syntax, so that his use of vocal communication is unlike the relatively inflexible forms of "instinctive" communication that are widespread in the animal kingdom. Although such results are always likely to be controversial, and working intensively with a single animal always incurs the risk of Clever Hans effects, Pepperberg's work has strengthened the argument that humans do not hold the monopoly on the complex or semicomplex use of abstract communication. A mimic is any species that has evolved to appear similar to another successful species in order to dupe predators into avoiding the mimic, or dupe prey into approaching the mimic. ...
Binomial name Psittacus erithacus Linnaeus, 1758 Subspecies The African Grey Parrot is a medium-sized parrot of the genus Psittacus, native to Africa and is considered one of the most intelligent birds. ...
Alex is an African grey parrot whose use of language has been studied intensively for over 30 years by animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg, initially at the University of Arizona and currently at Brandeis University. ...
For other uses, see Syntax (disambiguation). ...
The suckling of a newborn at its mothers nipple is an example of an instinctive behavior. ...
Animal communication is any behaviour on the part of one animal that has an effect on the current or future behaviour of another animal. ...
Clever Hans performs Clever Hans (in German, der Kluge Hans) was a horse that was apparently trained to perform arithmetic and other intellectual tasks. ...
Some researchers believe that the training method that Pepperberg used with Alex, (called the model-rival technique) holds promise for teaching autistic and other learning-disabled children who have difficulty learning language, numerical concepts and empathy. When some autistic children were taught using the same methods Dr. Pepperberg devised to teach parrots, their response exceeded expectations.
From work with the single subject Alex, Pepperberg and her colleagues have gone on to study additional African Grey Parrots, and also parrots of other species. A final evaluation of the importance of her work will probably depend on the success of these attempts to generalise it to other individuals.
Model-Rival technique The model rival technique involves two trainers, one to give instructions, and one to model correct and incorrect responses and to act as the student's rival for the trainer's attention; the model and trainer also exchange roles so that the student sees that the process is fully interactive. The parrot, in the role of student, tries to reproduce the correct behavior.[1]
The use of this model rival technique has resulted in Alex identifying objects by color, shape, number and material at about the level of chimpanzees and dolphins. His language abilities are equivalent to those of a 2-year old child and he has the problem solving skills of a 6-year old. Alex is learning the alphabet, can count up to six objects and is working on identifying objects from photographs.
Pepperberg counters critics' claims that Alex has been taught a script by explaining that the controls and tests she uses make it impossible for him simply to recite words when she asks questions. According to Pepperberg, Alex must understand labels and objects to answer her questions.
The Alex Foundation Pepperberg started The Alex Foundation, which supports Pepperberg and her team's research. Funds are donated to the foundation and then are used to help care for her parrots and to document her work. She receives funding only through the foundation - she has no federal funding. The Alex Foundation also sells parrot-related gifts to help funding efforts. Author Mercedes Lackey creates jewelry that is sold for The Alex Foundation. The Alex Foundation Mercedes Lackey Mercedes Lackey (born June 24, 1950) (also known as Misty Lackey) is a prolific American author of fantasy novels. ...
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