Scientists in Italy show that chicks have arithmetic skills
Last updated 10/29/2009 8:43:05 AM
chicks have arithmetic skills
Here's great news for chicks ahead of the Easter holidays. Researchers in Italy have discovered that baby birds are more switched on than was realised and can even do arithmetic.
The scientists from the universities of Padova and Trento showed the intelligence of the young birds by demonstrating their ability to add and subtract objects as they were moved behind two screens.
The findings, which have just been published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, concluded the animals performed basic arithmetic to work out which screen concealed the larger group of objects.
Lucia Regolin, an author of the study, said chicks always tried to stay close to objects they are reared with - just as they stay close to and follow their mother as soon as they hatch. This instant recognition is known as ‘imprinting'.
This perhaps explains why Optimist World has a chicken as its mascot – it's not only a fantastic symbol of optimism and confidence in the future, but also a sure sign of our intelligence too!