Jaylo ignores the cheese in the right box, and waits for the worm in the left box - which only becomes available after a delay.
This is the first evidence of a link between self-control and intelligence in birds.
Self-control - the ability to resist temptation in favour of a better but delayed reward – is a vital skill that underpins effective decision-making and future planning.
Jays are members of the corvid family, often nicknamed the ‘feathered apes’ because they rival non-human primates in their cognitive abilities. Corvids hide, or ‘cache’, their food to save it for later. In other words, they need to delay immediate gratification to plan for future meals. The researchers think this may have driven the evolution of self-control in these birds.
The new results show that the link between intelligence and self-control exists across distantly related animal groups, suggesting it has evolved independently several times.
This is the first evidence of a link between self-control and intelligence in birds.
Self-control - the ability to resist temptation in favour of a better but delayed reward – is a vital skill that underpins effective decision-making and future planning.
Jays are members of the corvid family, often nicknamed the ‘feathered apes’ because they rival non-human primates in their cognitive abilities. Corvids hide, or ‘cache’, their food to save it for later. In other words, they need to delay immediate gratification to plan for future meals. The researchers think this may have driven the evolution of self-control in these birds.
The new results show that the link between intelligence and self-control exists across distantly related animal groups, suggesting it has evolved independently several times.
- Category
- Academic
Sign in or sign up to post comments.
Be the first to comment