Comprehension of signs by dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Journal of Comparative Psychology
A TschudinC van der Elst

Abstract

The authors assessed the ability of 6 captive dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to comprehend without explicit training 3 human communicative signs (pointing, directed gaze, and replica). Pointing consisted of indicating the target item with the index finger and a fully extended arm. Directed gaze consisted of orienting the head and eyes toward the target item while the rest of the body remained stationary. The replica signal consisted of holding up an exact duplicate of the target item. On the initial series of 12 trials for each condition, 3 dolphins performed above chance on pointing, 2 on gaze, and none for replica. With additional trials, above chance performance increased to 4 dolphins for pointing, 6 for gazing, and 2 for replica. The replica sign seemed to be the most taxing for them (only 2 dolphins achieved results significantly above chance). Taken together, these results indicate that dolphins are able to interpret untrained communicative signs successfully.

References

Nov 23, 1979·Science·H S TerraceT G Bever
Mar 1, 1984·Cognition·L M HermanJ P Wolz
Dec 1, 1994·Journal of Comparative Psychology·J Call, M Tomasello
Dec 16, 1998·Animal Behaviour·M TomaselloB Hare
Mar 2, 1999·Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology·J R Anderson, R W Mitchell
Oct 1, 1998·Animal Cognition·J CallM Tomasello
Oct 1, 1998·Animal Cognition·A MiklösiV Csányi

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 2, 2004·Animal Cognition·Marina Scheumann, Josep Call
Apr 17, 2004·Animal Cognition·Mark J XitcoStan A Kuczaj
Oct 20, 2005·Animal Cognition·Adam Miklósi, Krisztina Soproni
May 12, 2007·Animal Cognition·Stephen V Shepherd, Michael L Platt
Jun 11, 2008·Animal Cognition·Nicolas GiretDalila Bovet
Oct 8, 2008·Animal Cognition·Carla Krachun, Josep Call
Jun 23, 2009·Animal Cognition·Kelly JaakkolaMarie Trone
Jul 10, 2009·Animal Cognition·Leanne Proops, Karen McComb
Apr 23, 2010·Animal Cognition·Anna WilkinsonLudwig Huber
Jan 14, 2004·Journal of Comparative Psychology·Ari D ShapiroPeter J B Slater
Jun 29, 2005·Journal of Comparative Psychology·Juliane BräuerMichael Tomasello
Mar 23, 2006·Journal of Comparative Psychology·Juliane BräuerMichael Tomasello
Aug 11, 2010·Journal of Comparative Psychology·David A Leopold, Gillian Rhodes
Aug 13, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Thomas BugnyarBernd Heinrich
Oct 30, 2009·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Benedict C JonesBernard P Tiddeman
Jun 20, 2007·Psychological Science·Sanae Okamoto-BarthMichael Tomasello
Sep 12, 2008·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Lori MarinoHal Whitehead
May 17, 2007·PLoS Biology·Lori MarinoHal Whitehead
Mar 5, 2013·Neural Networks : the Official Journal of the International Neural Network Society·Alejandro Chinea, Elka Korutcheva
Oct 21, 2009·Developmental Science·Juliane KaminskiMichael Tomasello
Feb 14, 2015·Learning & Behavior·Raphaëlle Malassis, Fabienne Delfour
Oct 4, 2008·Annual Review of Psychology·Nathan J Emery, Nicola S Clayton
Jul 19, 2013·Evolutionary Psychology : an International Journal of Evolutionary Approaches to Psychology and Behavior·Dawson Clary, Debbie M Kelly
Jun 21, 2019·Animal Cognition·Oraya KetchaisriJoshua M Plotnik

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.