NOVA scienceNOW Season 6 Episode 5
NOVA scienceNOW
Season 6

Ep 5. What Are Animals Thinking?

  • TV-PG
  • November 7, 2012
  • 52 min
  •   (14)

What Are Animals Thinking? is the fifth episode of the sixth season of NOVA scienceNOW. This episode explores the cutting edge of animal cognition research, delving into what scientists are discovering about how animals perceive the world around them, solve problems, and even reason beyond simple stimulus-response behavior. Host David Pogue visits Dr. Irene Pepperberg, a renowned animal cognition researcher who has spent decades studying the cognitive abilities of parrots. Through Pepperberg's work with the famous African Grey parrot, Alex, Pogue learns about the potential of these birds to understand language and demonstrate complex reasoning skills. He also explores other recent discoveries in animal cognition, including research that shows primates have a basic grasp of probability and can make decisions based on statistical analysis. Next, Pogue visits the Georgia Institute of Technology, where researchers are studying the behavior of dogs. By using eye-tracking technology, scientists are able to understand how dogs interact with humans and interpret social cues. They also investigate whether dogs have a sense of fair play and whether their behavior can be influenced by what they perceive to be equitable outcomes. The episode also looks at the challenges of studying animal cognition. Pogue travels to Australia to visit researchers studying the intelligence of octopuses, creatures that inhabit a world quite different from our own. The team at the University of Sydney has developed a number of puzzles to study octopus behavior and learning, but just getting the animals to perform the tests requires creative solutions. Finally, the episode looks at the implications of animal cognition research. Dr. Michael Beran at Georgia State University studies the cognitive abilities of animals in captivity, but also works to improve the welfare of animals in zoos and other confined environments. By designing problem-solving games that are tailored to an animal's cognitive abilities, Beran hopes to increase engagement and enrichment to benefit the animals. What Are Animals Thinking? offers an insightful look into the mysteries of animal cognition and the exciting frontiers of research that are currently being explored. The episode leaves one pondering whether we may one day have a deeper understanding of the inner lives of the creatures that share our world.

Description
Watch NOVA scienceNOW - What Are Animals Thinking? (s6 e5) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
NOVA scienceNOW, Season 6 Episode 5, is available to watch and stream on PBS. You can also buy, rent NOVA scienceNOW on demand at Apple TV online.
  • First Aired
    November 7, 2012
  • Content Rating
    TV-PG
  • Runtime
    52 min
  • Language
    English