Winnie Dalton asked 2 เดือน ago
When animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg entered a Northwest Side pet shop in 1977 and bought an exuberant one-year-old African grey parrot named Alex She started a 30-year study that changed how we perceive the avian brain. Her research on Alex disproved the belief that birds can only imitate human language without understanding the meaning.
What is Alex?
Alex (short form for Avian Learning experiment) was originally just an African grey parrot purchased at a pet store. Over the course of his lifetime, he broke new ground in animal psychology, and proved that animals are as intelligent as dolphins or primates. Until his death in 2007, Alex was one of the most well-known talking birds around the world, appearing on TV shows and scientific reports.
In his entire life, Alex learned over 150 words and was able to recognize the colors, shapes materials, as well as the quantities of objects. He was able comprehend the meanings of words, which is an uncommon feat for birds. For example, when it came across the word “grape” he would recognize that it was a fruit and not an vegetable. Dr. Pepperberg taught Alex words in a manner that helped him comprehend them. She along with a colleague would take on the role of teacher and student. Alex observed and listened. He was awarded for correct pronunciation and definition with the object that was associated with the word.
She also taught Alex the meanings of words, not just the sounds. This was a groundbreaking method, as it is typically the situation that pet parrots are taught words for their novelty value only. When owners use certain words but they don’t actually mean what they’re saying. Alex, on contrary, said exactly what he said when he used a particular word.
Some scientists believe it is unfair to make comparisons between Alex with humans when it comes to intelligence. They argued that even though Alex could communicate, he was not capable of using logical expressions such as “if you do x, then y.”
Alex’s research into animal intelligence and consciousness is controversial. When he died in 2007 at the age of 31, he was one of the most well-known talking parrots of all time.
What was Alex’s personality like?
Alex was an infamous member of a gang that enjoyed brutal acts. He was a likable character despite his violent tendencies, and seemed to relish his influence over fellow hoodlums. He was addicted to violence and classical music. Beethoven’s music particularly brought up images of blood and depravity for him. The gang would drink milk laced with drugs to prepare themselves for “ultraviolence.”
Alex’s past as a parrot in an animal shop was not particularly impressive however, it was a great experience for him. Alex was quick to master concepts and words from his human trainer, Irene Pepperberg. Her research over thirty years on him changed the way we think about animal cognition and communication. She credits Alex with helping her learn how to use the model that was effective for other animals and children with learning disabilities.
After her work with him Dr. Pepperberg went on to conduct studies with other parrots like Wart and Griffin. She is now a professor at the University of Washington and continues her pioneering research on birds.
Alex is the youngest of the group and the most childlike. She’s a tomboy, and has been described by other members as being ticklish. She is also the biggest animal fan in the group. She often acts as a peacemaker between Clover and Sam when they get into unimportant disputes (such as in “Abductions”).
Alex has an extremely confident sense of self that she uses to manipulate other people. This has led her to get into fights with other gang members, including her longtime enemy Gigi, whom she blames for spilling a juice on her blanket when she was an infant (“Mime World”) She also has an Emo/Goth-like personality and is fond of dressing in black and writing deep poems about loss and love (“Boy Bands Will Be Boy Bands”). The show’s writers have mentioned that her top song is by Seth MacFarlane and she once had a relationship with him.
What was Alex like in terms of intelligence?
When Alex, buying an african grey parrot baby african grey parrot for sale grey parrot, first came into animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg’s world in 1977, he might have been viewed as a mere pet. However, over the subsequent 30 years, Alex helped revolutionize the field of animal psychology by showing that birds aren’t just “rabbit brains.”
Alex was a seasoned talker when Irene Pepperberg saw him for the first time at an animal store. He could identify and request objects, say their names, and even categorize them. He could also express feelings, such as when he was frustrated or annoyed during training sessions. He would communicate this to his trainers by putting his head on his cage or yelling loudly, “I want a banana.”
Alex’s brain was so sophisticated that he was able to comprehend and even categorize objects and their colors, shapes, and materials. He could also discern the distinction between a plastic bag and a wooden box, and also measure and compare the quantities of different items. In fact, he even was able to comprehend the concept of zero, something that humans typically don’t grasp until the age of four!
Alex’s abilities were impressive because unlike other parrots, he understood what he said. He was adept at using his vocabulary of more than 100 words to describe, request, and refuse objects, and also describe their dimensions and materials. He was able to comprehend analogies and recognize written words however he was not capable of connecting them to their spoken form.
The majority of parrots are taught words however they don’t know the meaning behind them. Pepperberg and her assistants carried out scenarios that included the object they wished Alex to master. This process is referred to as the rival model and has since evolved into an accepted method of teaching animals.
In addition to his cognitive skills, Alex was a friendly and playful pet who loved to interact with his owners. He often served as an advisor and cheerleader during the training sessions, urging or admonishing them to do better. He was extremely observant, and he could sense the emotions of his human companions. He would often leap into his owner’s arms when she was smiling and would cling to her legs when she was sad or angry.
What was the impact of Alex’s actions?
In his short life, Alex changed the lives of a lot of people. His legacy is a testament to his strength of determination and character. He was a role model for a lot of mountain climbers, travelers and those who wanted to live their lives on their own terms. He taught his students that you can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it. He believed that if you don’t worry about what others think of you, you can reach excellence.
Chris/Alex faced many challenges on his journey. He was confronted with the loss of his dad, financial problems, and adversity. He was able to overcome all of these obstacles with his determination and perseverance. He never gave up on his goal of becoming a mountain climber. He continued to work towards his goal, and eventually became one of the most famous mountain climbers in the world.
Even after his passing, he continues to inspire people all over the world. Free Solo is a film about Alex and his incredible achievements in climbing. The film has received a lot of critical acclaim and is regarded as one of the most acclaimed documentaries ever produced. It has also won numerous awards including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019.
In addition to his work with Dr. Pepperberg, Alex also set the standard for 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 an avian at the time.
He was also able communicate with other animals by using sign language, and also was able to comprehend grammar. He utilized a method of teaching called “rival model” which involved two trainers showing the bird what they wanted to teach it. The trainers would often switch positions to allow the bird to interact with both and receive attention from both.
After the success of Free Solo, alex the african grey parrot was given the title of National Hero by President Barack Obama in 2014. Alex was able achieve so much in his lifetime due to his strength of character and his desire to live life to his own terms.
