Scientists Propose Framework to Assess Animal Communication Tools
Ruth Fremson/The New York Times Image
Jennifer Cunha
Copyright Northeastern University 2023 / Modoono, Matthew
Jennifer Cunha
Jennifer Cunha
Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University. Graphic by Zach Christensen.
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Historic Pursuit: Teaching Animals to Communicate
In a pioneering study, researchers introduce a framework to evaluate the effectiveness of communication tools for animals. Through analyzing a Goffin's cockatoo named Ellie and her interactions with a speech board, they shed light on the intricacies of animal cognition. This article delves into their findings, revealing the challenges and implications of their approach.
Decades ago, a tantalizing scientific pursuit captured imaginations: teaching animals to talk. Researchers embarked on ambitious endeavors, employing sign language with apes and expanding the English vocabularies of parrots. Media buzzed with excitement, but controversies simmered. Critics questioned the rigor of the studies, suggesting that apparent communication might be mere projection. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, enthusiasm waned, and the endeavor fell from favor. However, recent technological advancements and a deepening understanding of animal cognition have reignited interest. Today, pet owners are exploring communication with their dogs through "talking buttons," while zoos engage apes with touch screen interfaces, signaling a fresh chapter in the quest to bridge the gap between species.
A New Approach: Assessing Animal Communication Tools
In a cautious yet groundbreaking paper, a team of scientists introduces a framework aimed at evaluating the potential of communication tools for animals. Jennifer Cunha, a visiting research associate at Indiana University, emphasizes that their research aims to address past controversies. Presented at a science conference, the paper centers on Cunha's 11-year-old Goffin’s cockatoo, Ellie. Since 2019, Cunha has been training Ellie to use an interactive "speech board" - a tablet-based app boasting over 200 illustrated icons. These icons correspond to words and phrases such as "sunflower seeds," "happy," and "I feel hot." When Ellie taps an icon with her tongue, a computerized voice articulates the corresponding word or phrase, offering a potential avenue for enhanced animal expression.
Unraveling Animal Expression: A Quantitative Study
In their latest endeavor, Jennifer Cunha and her team embarked on a unique exploration, refraining from determining if Ellie's interactions with the speech board equated to communication. Instead, they employed quantitative and computational methodologies to scrutinize Ellie's icon presses to uncover the tool's "expressive and enrichment potential." Cunha elaborates on their approach, questioning, "How can we analyze the expression to see if there might be a space for intention or communication?" Moreover, they sought insights into Ellie's values and preferences through her selections. The scientists meticulously examined nearly 40 hours of seven-month video footage, dissecting Ellie's interactions with the speech board. They then juxtaposed her icon presses with simulations of a hypothetical user selecting icons randomly, unveiling intriguing nuances in Ellie's engagement with the communication tool.
Beyond Randomness: Delving into Ellie's Intentions
Despite meticulous analysis, Ellie's icon selections defied the simplicity of randomness. The researchers, intrigued by her deliberate engagement, discovered that the design intricacies of the speech board couldn't wholly account for her choices. Dr. Federico Rossano, a comparative cognition expert from the University of California, San Diego, not involved in the study, notes the improbability of randomness. However, he cautions against conflating Ellie's actions with intentional communication, suggesting she might be replicating learned sequences akin to operating a vending machine. Dr. Rossano likens it to pushing buttons to receive a reward without deliberate cognition. To deepen their understanding, the research team sought "corroboration," observing whether Ellie's selections corresponded with subsequent actions. Did choosing the apple icon lead to her consuming an apple? Did engaging with a reading-related icon result in sustained interaction with a book? These investigations offer glimpses into the complexities of animal cognition and behavior.
Corroborating Ellie's Choices: Insights into Behavior
While not every aspect of Ellie's selections could undergo scrutiny, some yielded tangible insights. Determining Ellie's precise emotional state at any given moment remained elusive. However, out of nearly 500 assessable icon presses, a staggering 92 percent aligned with Ellie's subsequent behavior. This high level of correlation underscores the potential significance of her choices and suggests a degree of intentionality or meaningfulness behind her interactions with the speech board. Despite the limitations in deciphering subjective states, this finding offers compelling evidence of a link between Ellie's icon selections and her subsequent actions, shedding light on the intricacies of animal cognition and communication.
Enrichment in Interaction: Ellie's Engagement with the Speech Board
In their quest to understand the impact of the speech board on Ellie, researchers delved into the types of icons she favored, aiming to ascertain whether the tool served as a form of enrichment. Their findings paint a vivid picture of Ellie's preferences and engagement. Remarkably, the study revealed a significant inclination towards social and cognitive enrichment in Ellie's interactions. While food-related selections accounted for approximately 14 percent of her choices, a staggering 73 percent revolved around activities fostering social interaction or cognitive stimulation. These ranged from playing games to engaging with other birds or simply communicating with Ms. Cunha. Notably, Ellie initiated the use of the speech board a remarkable 85 percent of the time, highlighting her consistent engagement with the device over several months. Despite the study's limitations, including the challenge of extrapolating findings from a single animal and the potential for unconscious cuing by Ms. Cunha, experts lauded the researchers' systematic approach and restrained conclusions, underscoring the significance of their contributions to understanding animal cognition and communication.