Crows count the number of self-generated vocalizations

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Liao, Diana A.; Brecht, Katharina F.; Veit, Lena; Nieder, Andreas
• 署名单位: Eberhard Karls University of Tubingen; Eberhard Karls University of Tubingen
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-13070
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adl0984
• 发表日期: 2024-05-24
• 页码: 874-877
• 关键词: alarm calls; INFORMATION; mechanisms; birdsong

摘要

Producing a specific number of vocalizations with purpose requires a sophisticated combination of numerical abilities and vocal control. Whether this capacity exists in animals other than humans is yet unknown. We show that crows can flexibly produce variable numbers of one to four vocalizations in response to arbitrary cues associated with numerical values. The acoustic features of the first vocalization of a sequence were predictive of the total number of vocalizations, indicating a planning process. Moreover, the acoustic features of vocal units predicted their order in the sequence and could be used to read out counting errors during vocal production.