Do Humans and Animals Think Alike?
We read with interest an article, "What Is the Cognitive Rift Between Humans and Other Animals?" in Science Daily (Feb. 17, 2008). It is about a Harvard University scientist who found four key differences between how humans and animals think. Marc Hauser, professor in several disciplines at Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences presented his theory of "humaniqueness" at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Several of Dr. Hauser's differences caught our attention and made us wonder if he had lived with pets or only studied them under research conditions. Maybe he's done both. We don't know.
Dr. Hauser contrasted humans to other animals by saying that animals have "laser beam" intelligence. They use a specific solution for a specific problem but don't apply the solution to new situations or different types of problems.
He hasn't met our cocker spaniel Leaf. This little guy is a master at problem solving and strategizing. We have bought a variety of kongs (those solid, rubber toys in which you can insert goodies such as bananas or other great-smelling food). We fill the kongs, close them up tightly, and freeze them.
After we give each kong to Leaf, he must figure out how to solve the puzzle of opening it and retrieving the treats. This takes a blessedly long time and diverts his attention from whatever else he might be craving, such as the food we are eating for dinner.
The kongs are constructed differently. Some only have a top opening. Some have both a top and bottom opening. Others split in half and screw open. They also vary in shape.
We have seen Leaf apply any number of strategies to opening the kongs. He has relationships with them. He'll growl as if to say, "You'd better open up or I'll make you miserable." Then he'll switch to sweet-talk and kissing it in his version of good cop-bad cop.
He'll bounce them down the steps to loosen whatever is inside. He'll roll them and make the twisted-together parts break open. He'll wait until the food inside starts to thaw and then tackle the kong with vigor. He'll push the kong around with his nose, bat it with his paws, lick it with his tongue. He applies each of these strategies to the different kongs until he finds the right combinations.
So, Dr. Hauser, we beg to differ with your conclusions about at least one of your four distinguishing features of human vs. animal cognition. Our dog applies a variety of strategies to a variety of situations.
What do you think? Have you seen an animal use strategy to solve one problem and then apply it to a new and different situation?
Several of Dr. Hauser's differences caught our attention and made us wonder if he had lived with pets or only studied them under research conditions. Maybe he's done both. We don't know.
Dr. Hauser contrasted humans to other animals by saying that animals have "laser beam" intelligence. They use a specific solution for a specific problem but don't apply the solution to new situations or different types of problems.
He hasn't met our cocker spaniel Leaf. This little guy is a master at problem solving and strategizing. We have bought a variety of kongs (those solid, rubber toys in which you can insert goodies such as bananas or other great-smelling food). We fill the kongs, close them up tightly, and freeze them.
After we give each kong to Leaf, he must figure out how to solve the puzzle of opening it and retrieving the treats. This takes a blessedly long time and diverts his attention from whatever else he might be craving, such as the food we are eating for dinner.
The kongs are constructed differently. Some only have a top opening. Some have both a top and bottom opening. Others split in half and screw open. They also vary in shape.
We have seen Leaf apply any number of strategies to opening the kongs. He has relationships with them. He'll growl as if to say, "You'd better open up or I'll make you miserable." Then he'll switch to sweet-talk and kissing it in his version of good cop-bad cop.
He'll bounce them down the steps to loosen whatever is inside. He'll roll them and make the twisted-together parts break open. He'll wait until the food inside starts to thaw and then tackle the kong with vigor. He'll push the kong around with his nose, bat it with his paws, lick it with his tongue. He applies each of these strategies to the different kongs until he finds the right combinations.
So, Dr. Hauser, we beg to differ with your conclusions about at least one of your four distinguishing features of human vs. animal cognition. Our dog applies a variety of strategies to a variety of situations.
What do you think? Have you seen an animal use strategy to solve one problem and then apply it to a new and different situation?
Posted by Allen and Linda Anderson at 2/23/2008 7:14 PM 
Categories: Topics in the News, Observations, Articles about Animals
Categories: Topics in the News, Observations, Articles about Animals
My dog, Angel, likes to solve puzzles also. She is a ten year old border collie springer spaniel mix that I got at a shelter when she was a wee pup. She loves tennis balls and after having them for awhile, they sometimes develops tears in their seams. I sometimes, put a "cookie" in the torn tennis ball. Then I put another tennis ball over that first one. I then wrap it up in socks, slipping the socks over the two balls. I continue to add socks in various ways, tied etc. Angel uses many methods to get to the cookie. She loves doing this. She loves to play and is the smartest dog, by a long shot, that I have ever been graced with.
I cared for my brother and mother over the past ten years. They both loved Angel and felt great comfort when she was around.
Angel is afraid of men; unless they are in some kind of emotional pain. She senses that and stays near them or jumps into their laps. I think she is a natural healer and as well she has a loving, gentle, and a joyful personality.
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I think the cover story in National Geographic refutes his findings. You can read it online at http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/03/animal-minds/virginia-morell-text.html. I have also seen videos on chimpanzees that show them adapting a tool to a new situation.
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My horse Shiloh loves the fact that the barn crew stack some of the hay for his end of the barn outside of his stall. He has figured out how to reach outside his door and drag an entire bale into the stall. Sometimes he 'hides' the bale in the back of the stall, and he's been known to take his stall door off and prop the bale against it, making it difficult for anyone to enter and take the bale from him.
My thoughts: he worked hard to get the bale in the stall, he deserves it!
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