Cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots by irene maxine pepperberg 20020430 paperback bunko 1656 by irene maxine pepperberg. The parrot who said i love you alex the african gray parrot could do more than speak and understand he could also count, identify. I n june 1977, irene pepperberg went to a chicago pet store, purchased an african grey parrot, and named him alex. While this book inevitably covers some of the same ground, it is a moving tribute that beautifully evokes the struggles, the initial triumphs, the setbacks, the unexpected and often stunning achievements.
She trained alex to speak and comprehend some english, then used his linguistic capacities to. While this book inevitably covers some of the same ground, it is a moving tribute that beautifully evokes the struggles, the initial triumphs, the setbacks, the unexpected and often stunning achievements during a groundbreaking scientific endeavor spent uncovering cognitive abilities in alex that no one believed were possible, and challenging sciences. Irene pepperberg has written a book about her work of three decades with the african grey parrot alex, who died unexepectedly in september, 2007. Cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots 9780674008069. She describes simply what she did, and why and how her results compare. The main focus of her work is to determine the cognitive and communicative abilities of these birds, and compare their abilities with those of great apes, marine mammals, and young children. In his lifetime, alex became a media star, thus helping to advance the understanding of both animal cognition and of the interconnectedness between animals and people. The results of the majority of her experiments are discussed in terms drawn from the general literature of behavior analysis and skinners analysis of. I loved alex from the moment that he was introduced in the story. Cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots new ed by irene maxine pepperberg isbn. Experiments performed primarily on pigeons in skinner boxes demonstrated.
She is the author of one previous book, the alex studies harvard, 2000. Irene maxine pepperberg born april 1, 1949 is a scientist noted for her studies in animal. Booktopia has the alex studies, cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots by irene maxine pepperberg. In her 1999 book, the alex studies, published by harvard, pepperberg writes about becoming excited by an idea that donald griffin, the zoologist, had articulated. Pepperberg, for proving how brilliant even the smallest little animals are in captivity and in the wild. Feb 11, 2000 the alex studies cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots irene maxine pepperberg harvard university press, cambridge, ma, 1999. How a scientist and a parrot uncovered a hidden world of animal intelligence and formed a deep bond in the process by irene m. The book should be accessible to a wide range of audiences, from researchers. Pepperberg and alex, an african grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to communicat. Pepperberg traces her childhood and the many hurdles she scaled in the scientific community. In detailing the training and remarkable achievements of alex and the other birds in pepperbergs lab, the alex studies makes it clear that parrots are capable of much more than parroting or mechanically mimicking what they hear. Irene pepperbergs studies of alex are some of the most remarkable and significant in the whole field of animal cognition.
Dec 19, 20 irene pepperberg on teaching alex the parrot to count. That obscured the significance of the studies, which is why the alex studies is important. Pepperberg is an associate research professor at brandeis university in massachusetts and teaches animal cognition at harvard university. Jan 21, 2000 the alex studies by irene maxine pepperberg, 97806740005, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Irene pepperberg has done groundbreaking experiments, and bringing them together in a panoramic view is a great service.
That obscured the significance of the studies, which is why the alex studies is important irene pepperberg has done groundbreaking experiments, and bringing them together in a panoramic view is a great service she describes. She is the winner of the 2000 selby fellowship from the australian academy of sciences and was made a fellow of the american psychological society. Cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots di pepperberg, irene maxine e una grande selezione di libri, arte e articoli da collezione disponibile su abebooks. I recently read irene pepperbergs book about her life with alex the world famous african grey, who could identify colors, quantities, materials, shapes and use language in astonishing context. Buy a discounted paperback of the alex studies online from australias leading online bookstore. Twenty years ago, irene pepperberg set out to discover whether largebrained, highly social parrots were capable of mastering complex cognitive concepts and the rudiments of referential speech. Alex s brain was the size of a shelled walnut, and when irene and alex first met, birds were not believed to possess any potential for language, consciousness, or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. Irene pepperberg on teaching alex the parrot to count telegraph.
Nov 09, 2008 for a technical analysis of his feats, youll want to read pepperbergs book the alex studies, published in 2000. The present book, in contrast, is largely celebratory light on. She is the winner of the 2000 selby fellowship from the australian academy of sciences and was made a fellow of the american. A new york times bestseller and selected as one of the papers critics top ten books of the. Pepperberg, who teaches animal cognition, has previously documented the results of her 30year relationship with alex in the alex studies. A new york times bestseller and selected as one of the papers critics top ten books of the year, alex.
While at times a heavy and technical book, the alex studies is an incredibly detailed yet readable overview of her work with alex. The alex studies by irene maxine pepperberg, 97806740005, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Irene pepperbergs studies of alex are some of the most remarkable and. Birds were rarely used in similar studies on the grounds that they were merely talented mimicsthat they were, after all, birdbrains. Irene maxine pepperberg born april 1, 1949 is a scientist noted for her studies in animal cognition, particularly in relation to parrots. Cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots by. What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in alexs case, headline news. Alex may 1976 6 september 2007 was a grey parrot and the subject of a thirtyyear experiment by animal psychologist irene pepperberg, initially at the university of arizona and later at harvard university and brandeis university.
The alex studies cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots irene maxine pepperberg harvard university press, cambridge, ma, 1999. Social modeling theory and its application to birds. Alex the african grey my parrot and i books and arts. Pepperberg is a pioneer in the field of avian cognition and language development. She is an adjunct professor of psychology at brandeis university and a lecturer at harvard university. More is a scientist noted for her studies in animal cognition, particularly in relation to parrots. Pdf cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots. She is head of the alex foundation and author of the alex studies. Buy a discounted paperback of the alex studies online from. The parrot who said i love you alex the african gray parrot could do more than speak and understand he could also count, identify colors and develop an emotional relationship. When irene pepperberg, a professor at the university of arizona, says goodnight, she typically hears the reply bye. Alex s spectacular abilities were sensationalized in the news media, as though it were a talking parrot act. Pepperberg, completely changed the way scientists perceived parrot intelligence. Pdf this paper presents results of almost 30 years of study of the cognitive and.
Since the early 1900s, most studies on animalhuman communication have focused on great apes and a few cetacean species. By teaching the bird the meaningnot just the soundof words in. Dr irene pepperberg is well known for her studies on alex the grey parrot and this book provides a thorough and detailed account of some of the studies on alex, and some the results show the considerable intelligence of parrots. Cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots. Pepperberg and her colleagues have sought to show that alex can. Pepperberg has published her work in scientific journals, but in january harvard university press will publish the alex studies, a. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Irene maxine pepperberg is associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, associate professor of psychology, and affiliate in the program in neuroscience at the university of arizona. Her work with alex was groundbreaking and created the first crack in the bird brain stereotype. This book represents the longawaited synthesis of the studies constituting one of the landmark experiments in modern comparative psychology. Alexs abilities are extraordinary, and pepperbergs investigation of them. In detailing the training and remarkable achievements of alex and the other birds in pepperberg s lab, the alex studies makes it clear that parrots are capable of much more than parroting or mechanically mimicking what they hear. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. For a technical analysis of his feats, youll want to read pepperbergs book the alex studies, published in 2000.
Pepperberg and alex, an african grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to communicate and understand complex ideas. Jun 30, 2009 twenty years ago irene pepperberg set out to discover whether the results of the pigeon studies necessarily meant that other birdsparticularly the largebrained, highly social parrotswere incapable of mastering complex cognitive concepts and the rudiments of referential speech. The parrot alex can also recognize and distinguish numbers up to six, and spontaneously. Her evidence stands up to the closest scrutiny, and alex the parrot turns out to have cognitive abilities that were not even suspected before pepperberg began her work. Alexs brain was the size of a shelled walnut, and when irene and alex first met, birds were not believed to possess any potential for language, consciousness, or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. While i was doing the studies with him i always tried to treat him like a colleague the people you work with, you care about them, but.
I had the good fortune of seeing alex on a television show many many years ago, and he grabbed my imagination and my heart right from the start. She has been a professor, researcher andor lecturer at multiple universities, and she is currently a research associate and lecturer at harvard university. When alex was about one year old, pepperberg bought him at a pet shop. This article appeared in the books and arts section of the print edition under the headline my parrot and i. I believe that human social psychology, in the form of social modeling theory see, e. The alex studies, cognitive and communicative abilities of. For researchers in the field of animal cognition, pepperberg brings together in a well organized form 20 years of her work with grey parrots. She trained alex to speak and comprehend some english, then used his linguistic. The results of the majority of her experiments are discussed in terms drawn from the general literature of behavior analysis and skinners analysis of verbal behavior. Let a man decide upon his favorite animal and make a study. Alexs spectacular abilities were sensationalized in the news media, as though it were a talking parrot act. This book represents the longawaited synthesis of the studies.
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