Entrada del blog por Felisha Singer
When animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg entered a Northwest Side pet shop in 1977 and purchased an exuberant one-year-old african grey for sale $200 grey parrot named Alex and started a 30-year study that changed the way we view avian intelligence. Her research with him challenged the notion that birds could only mimic human speech with any understanding of what it means.
What is Alex?
Alex (short form for Avian Learning experiment) was initially an african grey parrots for adoption grey parrot purchased from a pet shop. However, over the course of his life, he set trails in animal psychology that were beyond anything previously thought possible. He also proved that animals can be as intelligent as dolphins or primates. Alex was among the most well-known talking birds in the world, until his death in 2007. He appeared on TV shows and scientific reportages.
Alex was able to recognize the shapes, colors and materials as well as the quantity of objects. Alex also understood the meaning behind words an ability that was not common for birds. For instance, if it came across the word "grape" he would know that it was a fruit, not an vegetable. Dr. Pepperberg taught Alex words in a manner that made him comprehend them. She along with a colleague would take on the roles of teacher and student. Alex observed and listened. He was rewarded for his correct pronunciation and definition by receiving the object that was associated with the word.
She also taught Alex the significance of words, rather than just the sounds. This was a groundbreaking method in the sense that it is usually the situation that pet parrots are taught words to be fun only. The owners don't mean what they say when they use a particular word. Alex, on the other hand, meant exactly what he said when used a certain word.
Some scientists argue that it is not fair to make comparisons between Alex to humans when it comes to intelligence. They pointed out that although Alex could communicate, he was not able to use logical expressions like "if there is x, then there is y."
Although this is still a matter of debate however, the fact is that Alex laid gizmo the grey parrot groundwork for research into the animal mind and consciousness. When he died in 2007 at 31 years of age Alex was among the most well-known talking parrots in the history of the world.
What was Alex's personality like?
Alex was a violent member of a gang who loved brutal acts. He was a likeable character despite his violent tendencies, and seemed to enjoy the power he had over his fellow hoodlums. He was addicted to two things in his life: violence and classical music, particularly Beethoven who's music always evoked images of blood and depravity to him. He and his group would drink milk laced with drugs to prepare themselves for "ultraviolence."
Alex's humble beginnings as an African Grey parrot at a pet store helped him immensely. Irene Pepperberg, his human trainer, was able teach him concepts and words quickly. Her study of him for thirty years changed the way we think about animal cognition and communication. She acknowledges Alex for teaching her how to apply the model that worked for animals as well as children who had learning disabilities.
Dr. Pepperberg continued her research with other parrots and parrots, including Wart and Griffin. She is now a professor at the University of Washington, where she continues her pioneering work with birds.
Alex is the tiniest member of the group and the most playful. She is a little more of a tween and has been described as very ticklish. She is the most animal-loving member of the group. She is often the one who makes peace when Clover and Sam get into meaningless arguments (such as "Abductions")
Alex has a remarkably self-assured sense of identity, which she uses to manipulate others. This has led to her getting into conflict with other members of the gang, including her long-time adversary Gigi, whom she blames for spilling juice on her blanket when she was a child ("Mime World") She also has developed a Goth/Emo persona. She loves to wear black clothing and write eloquent poems about loss, love and life ("Boy Bands will be Boy Bands"). The show's creators have said that Seth MacFarlane's track is her top choice and that she was a lover of his.
What was Alex's level of intelligence?
Alex is the african grey parrot eggs for sale grey parrot that Irene Pepperberg first met in 1977, might have appeared to be just another pet. Alex revolutionized the field of animal psychological research by proving that birds are much more than "rabbit minds."
When Irene Pepperberg first saw him at the pet shop, Alex was already an accomplished talker. He could categorize and name objects, and identify them and ask for them. He could also communicate his emotions, such as when he was feeling unhappy or dissatisfied during training sessions. He would communicate this to his trainers by putting his head on the cage or shouting loudly, "I want a banana."
Alex's brain was so sophisticated that he was able understand and even categorize objects and their shapes, colors, and materials. He was also able to tell the difference between a wood box and a plastic bag and count and compare the quantities of different items. He even grasped the concept of zero, which humans usually do not grasp until they are around four years old!
Alex's abilities were impressive because unlike other parrots, he understood what he said. Alex could use his more than 100 words to describe, request and reject objects as well as communicate the sizes and materials. He also demonstrated an understanding of analogies and could recognize the written word form - although it was not apparent that he could connect these with spoken forms.
Most parrots are taught words but don't comprehend the significance behind them. To teach Alex, Pepperberg and her assistants would create scenarios involving the object they wanted him to learn about. This technique is referred to as the rival model, and it has since become a common method of teaching animals.
Alex was not only a cognitively gifted dog but also a fun friend who loved playing with his owners. He was often an advisor and cheerleader during training sessions. He would encourage or admonish them to do better. He was also very attentive and was able to recognize the emotions of his human companions. He would often jump into his owner's arms when she was happy and clung to her leg when she was sad or angry.
What was Alex's impact like?
In his short time on earth, Alex changed many lives. His legacy is a testimony to his determination and character. He was a source of inspiration for many mountain climbers, travelers, and people who aspired to live life on their own terms. He taught them that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. He believed that you can achieve greatness if you don't worry about what other people think.
In the course of his journey Chris/Alex faced numerous challenges. He was confronted with the loss of his dad as well as financial issues and the adversity. He was successful in overcoming all these challenges through sheer determination and determination. He never gave up on his dream of becoming an accomplished mountain climber. He did not give up on his goal of becoming an mountain climber.
Even after his death he continues inspiring people around the world. The film Free Solo is a documentary about the life of Alex and his incredible achievements in climbing. This film has received much praise from critics and is considered one of the greatest documentaries ever produced. It has won many awards including the Academy Award in 2019 for Best Documentary Feature.
In addition to his work with Dr. Pepperberg, Alex also pioneered new avenues in bird intelligence. Alex could sing more than 100 vocal labels for actions and objects and could count object sets up to six, and demonstrate math skills that were advanced for a bird at the time.
He also could communicate with other animals through sign language and was able to comprehend a lot of grammar. He employed a method of training known as "rival model" which involved two trainers showing the bird what they wanted to teach it. The trainers would switch their positions frequently so that the bird was in a position to interact with both of them and receive praise and attention from each.
After the success of Free Solo, Alex was given the title of National Hero by President Barack Obama in 2014. Alex was able accomplish so many things throughout his life due to his determination of character and determination to live life according to his own terms.