3 ms·
One thing I've never seen discussed is how the behavior tests eliminate sense of smell (or some other sensory input that is different/better in the test subject
by stevenwoo 7y ago
One thing I've never seen discussed is how the behavior tests eliminate sense of smell (or some other sensory input that is different/better in the test subject versus humans) as a possible tool used by animals - several of the tests they discussed seemed like they could be explained by the test subject smelling what is the situation rather than reasoning.
- ggm 7y agoA good point but to assume it applies to all tests and invalidates the metaconcept might be too strong. It would not be hard to wipe both with fruit beforehand or wipe handles with alcohol etc. So I assume within the discipline well formed experimental setups account for this because it's too easy to do, to ignore. The corvid waxworm experiment for instance is a choice between two foods not one food and none, and crucially the birds don't even bother testing the caches of insects which have aged out. Yes birds have a good sense of smell but I think this tends to a marginal issue in the experiment not a deciding factor.