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The ability to plan for future events is one of the defining features of human intelligence. Whether non-human animals can plan for specific future situations remains contentious: despite a sustained research effort over the last two decades, there is still no consensus on this question. Here, we show that New Caledonian crows can use tools to plan for specific future events. Crows learned a temporal sequence where they were (a) shown a baited apparatus, (b) 5 min later given a choice of five objects and (c) 10 min later given access to the apparatus. At test, these crows were presented with one of two tool–apparatus combinations. For each combination, the crows chose the right tool for the right future task, while ignoring previously useful tools and a low-value food item. This study establishes that planning for specific future tool use can evolve via convergent evolution, given that corvids and humans shared a common ancestor over 300 million years ago, and offers a route to mapping the planning capacities of animals.
M. Boeckle; M. Schiestl; A. Frohnwieser; R. Gruber; R. Miller; T. Suddendorf; R. D. Gray; A. H. Taylor; N. S. Clayton. New Caledonian crows plan for specific future tool use. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2020, 287, 20201490 .
AMA StyleM. Boeckle, M. Schiestl, A. Frohnwieser, R. Gruber, R. Miller, T. Suddendorf, R. D. Gray, A. H. Taylor, N. S. Clayton. New Caledonian crows plan for specific future tool use. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 2020; 287 (1938):20201490.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Boeckle; M. Schiestl; A. Frohnwieser; R. Gruber; R. Miller; T. Suddendorf; R. D. Gray; A. H. Taylor; N. S. Clayton. 2020. "New Caledonian crows plan for specific future tool use." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 287, no. 1938: 20201490.
Summary Due to a legislative amendment in Austria to determine breath alcohol (BrAC) instead of blood alcohol (BAC) in connection with traffic offences, many results of blood alcohol calculations were simply converted using distinct conversion factors. In Austria, the transformation of BAC to BrAC was carried out by using a factor of 1:2000, which, however, is commonly known to be too low. Noticing the great demand for a calculation method that is not exclusively based on blood alcohol, a formula for calculating breath alcohol based on blood alcohol was published in 1989, but in which the body surface area (BSA) was considered the most important influencing variable. In order to refine this new method, a liquor intake experiment was conducted combined with measurements of total body water (TBW) as an additional variable, using hand to foot bioelectrical impedance assessment (BIA). The test group comprised 37 men and 40 women to evaluate the accuracy of TBW and BSA as an individual parameter for alcohol concentration. The correlation coefficient of BrAC with TBW was constantly higher than with BSA (maximum = 0.921 at 1 h and 45 min after cessation of alcohol intake). These results are valid for both men and women as well as in a gender independent calculation. Hence, for an accurate back calculation of BrAC adjusted values of eliminations rates had to be found. This study describes mean elimination rates of BrAC for both men (0.065 ± 0.011 mg/L h−1) and women (0.074 ± 0.017 mg/L h−1). As previously shown women displayed a significantly higher elimination rate than men (p = 0.006).
Gregor S. Reiter; Markus Boeckle; Christian Reiter; Monika H. Seltenhammer. The impact of total body water on breath alcohol calculations. Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 2020, 132, 535 -541.
AMA StyleGregor S. Reiter, Markus Boeckle, Christian Reiter, Monika H. Seltenhammer. The impact of total body water on breath alcohol calculations. Wiener klinische Wochenschrift. 2020; 132 (17):535-541.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGregor S. Reiter; Markus Boeckle; Christian Reiter; Monika H. Seltenhammer. 2020. "The impact of total body water on breath alcohol calculations." Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 132, no. 17: 535-541.
In adult humans, decisions involving the choice and use of tools for future events typically require episodic foresight. Previous studies suggest some non-human species are capable of future planning; however, these experiments often cannot fully exclude alternative learning explanations. Here, we used a novel tool-use paradigm aiming to address these critiques to test flexible planning in 3- to 5-year-old children, in relation to executive function and language abilities. In the flexible planning task, children were not verbally cued during testing, single trials avoided consistent exposure to stimulus–reward relationships, and training trials provided experience of a predictable return of reward. Furthermore, unlike most standard developmental studies, we incorporated short delays before and after tool choice. The critical test choice included two tools with equal prior reward experience—each only functional in one apparatus. We tested executive function and language abilities using several standardized tasks. Our results echoed standard developmental research: 4- and 5-year-olds outperformed 3-year-olds on the flexible planning task, and 5-year-old children outperformed younger children in most executive function and language tasks. Flexible planning performance did not correlate with executive function and language performance. This paradigm could be used to investigate flexible planning in a tool-use context in non-human species.
Rachael Miller; Anna Frohnwieser; Ning Ding; Camille A. Troisi; Martina Schiestl; Romana Gruber; Alex H. Taylor; Sarah Jelbert; Markus Boeckle; Nicola S. Clayton. A novel test of flexible planning in relation to executive function and language in young children. Royal Society Open Science 2020, 7, 192015 .
AMA StyleRachael Miller, Anna Frohnwieser, Ning Ding, Camille A. Troisi, Martina Schiestl, Romana Gruber, Alex H. Taylor, Sarah Jelbert, Markus Boeckle, Nicola S. Clayton. A novel test of flexible planning in relation to executive function and language in young children. Royal Society Open Science. 2020; 7 (4):192015.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRachael Miller; Anna Frohnwieser; Ning Ding; Camille A. Troisi; Martina Schiestl; Romana Gruber; Alex H. Taylor; Sarah Jelbert; Markus Boeckle; Nicola S. Clayton. 2020. "A novel test of flexible planning in relation to executive function and language in young children." Royal Society Open Science 7, no. 4: 192015.
The ability to make profitable decisions in natural foraging contexts may be influenced by an additional requirement of tool-use, due to increased levels of relational complexity and additional work-effort imposed by tool-use, compared with simply choosing between an immediate and delayed food item. We examined the flexibility for making the most profitable decisions in a multi-dimensional tool-use task, involving different apparatuses, tools and rewards of varying quality, in 3-5-year-old children, adult humans and tool-making New Caledonian crows (Corvus moneduloides). We also compared our results to previous studies on habitually tool-making orangutans (Pongo abelii) and non-tool-making Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana). Adult humans, cockatoos and crows, but not children and orangutans, did not select a tool when it was not necessary, which was the more profitable choice in this situation. Adult humans, orangutans and cockatoos, but not crows and children, were able to refrain from selecting non-functional tools. By contrast, the birds, but not the primates tested, struggled to attend to multiple variables—where two apparatuses, two tools and two reward qualities were presented simultaneously—without extended experience. These findings indicate: (1) in a similar manner to humans and orangutans, New Caledonian crows and Goffin’s cockatoos can flexibly make profitable decisions in some decision-making tool-use tasks, though the birds may struggle when tasks become more complex; (2) children and orangutans may have a bias to use tools in situations where adults and other tool-making species do not.
Rachael Miller; Romana Gruber; Anna Frohnwieser; Martina Schiestl; Sarah Jelbert; Russell D. Gray; Markus Boeckle; Alex H. Taylor; Nicola S. Clayton. Decision-making flexibility in New Caledonian crows, young children and adult humans in a multi-dimensional tool-use task. PLOS ONE 2020, 15, e0219874 .
AMA StyleRachael Miller, Romana Gruber, Anna Frohnwieser, Martina Schiestl, Sarah Jelbert, Russell D. Gray, Markus Boeckle, Alex H. Taylor, Nicola S. Clayton. Decision-making flexibility in New Caledonian crows, young children and adult humans in a multi-dimensional tool-use task. PLOS ONE. 2020; 15 (3):e0219874.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRachael Miller; Romana Gruber; Anna Frohnwieser; Martina Schiestl; Sarah Jelbert; Russell D. Gray; Markus Boeckle; Alex H. Taylor; Nicola S. Clayton. 2020. "Decision-making flexibility in New Caledonian crows, young children and adult humans in a multi-dimensional tool-use task." PLOS ONE 15, no. 3: e0219874.
Piero Amodio; Markus Boeckle; Alexandra K. Schnell; Ljerka Ostojic; Graziano Fiorito; Nicola S. Clayton. Shell Loss in Cephalopods: Trigger for, or By-Product of, the Evolution of Intelligence? A Reply to Mollo et al. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 2019, 34, 690 -692.
AMA StylePiero Amodio, Markus Boeckle, Alexandra K. Schnell, Ljerka Ostojic, Graziano Fiorito, Nicola S. Clayton. Shell Loss in Cephalopods: Trigger for, or By-Product of, the Evolution of Intelligence? A Reply to Mollo et al. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 2019; 34 (8):690-692.
Chicago/Turabian StylePiero Amodio; Markus Boeckle; Alexandra K. Schnell; Ljerka Ostojic; Graziano Fiorito; Nicola S. Clayton. 2019. "Shell Loss in Cephalopods: Trigger for, or By-Product of, the Evolution of Intelligence? A Reply to Mollo et al." Trends in Ecology & Evolution 34, no. 8: 690-692.
The ability to make profitable decisions in natural foraging contexts may be influenced by an additional requirement of tool-use, due to increased levels of relational complexity and additional work-effort imposed by tool-use, compared with simply choosing between an immediate and delayed food item. We examined the flexibility for making the most profitable decisions in a multi-dimensional tool-use task, involving different apparatuses, tools and rewards of varying quality, in 3-5-year-old children, adult humans and tool-making New Caledonian crows (Corvus moneduloides). We also compared our results to previous studies on habitually tool-making orangutans (Pongo abelii) and non-tool-making Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana). Adult humans, cockatoos and crows, though not children and orangutans, did not select a tool when it was not necessary, which was the more profitable choice in this situation. Adult humans, orangutans and cockatoos, though not crows and children, were able to refrain from selecting non-functional tools. By contrast, the birds, though not primates tested, struggled to attend to multiple variables - where two apparatuses, two tools and two reward qualities were presented simultaneously - without extended experience. These findings indicate: (1) in a similar manner to humans and orangutans, New Caledonian crows and Goffin’s cockatoos can flexibly make profitable decisions in some decision-making tool-use tasks, though the birds may struggle when tasks become more complex; (2) children and orangutans may have a bias to use tools in situations where adults and other tool-making species do not.
Rachael Miller; Romana Gruber; Anna Frohnwieser; Martina Schiestl; Sarah A. Jelbert; Russell D. Gray; Markus Boeckle; Alex H. Taylor; Nicola S. Clayton. Decision-making flexibility in New Caledonian crows, young children and adult humans in a multi-dimensional tool-use task. 2019, 693127 .
AMA StyleRachael Miller, Romana Gruber, Anna Frohnwieser, Martina Schiestl, Sarah A. Jelbert, Russell D. Gray, Markus Boeckle, Alex H. Taylor, Nicola S. Clayton. Decision-making flexibility in New Caledonian crows, young children and adult humans in a multi-dimensional tool-use task. . 2019; ():693127.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRachael Miller; Romana Gruber; Anna Frohnwieser; Martina Schiestl; Sarah A. Jelbert; Russell D. Gray; Markus Boeckle; Alex H. Taylor; Nicola S. Clayton. 2019. "Decision-making flexibility in New Caledonian crows, young children and adult humans in a multi-dimensional tool-use task." , no. : 693127.
Information about novel environments or foods can be gathered via individual or social learning. Whereas individual learning is assumed to be more costly and less effective than social learning, it also yields more detailed information. Juveniles are often found to be more explorative than adults. Still under the protection of their parents, this allows them to sample their environment in preparation for later in life. We tested individual and social learning in jackdaws (Corvus monedula) of different age groups in a semi-natural group setting. Juvenile and adult jackdaws differed in their learning propensity. Juveniles spent more time at the test apparatus, were more explorative, and caused the apparatus to open. Almost all the openings at the apparatus matched the demonstrated method. As more observers became available, the juveniles could observe each other. Individuals preferentially watched successful conspecifics and those they could scrounge food from. Lower-ranking individuals tended to watch higher ranking ones; higher ranking individuals preferentially watched conspecifics of similar rank. The control group did not manipulate the apparatus. Due to the lack of this baseline, it was difficult to determine for certain whether the opening technique was acquired via individual or social learning. We conclude that if social learning played a role, the underlying mechanism was most likely local or stimulus enhancement. It is, however, more parsimonious to assume that juveniles were more explorative than adults, and that their opening technique was potentially easier to acquire than the one demonstrated to adults.
Ira G. Federspiel; Markus Boeckle; A. M. P. Von Bayern; N. J. Emery. Exploring individual and social learning in jackdaws (Corvus monedula). Learning & Behavior 2019, 47, 258 -270.
AMA StyleIra G. Federspiel, Markus Boeckle, A. M. P. Von Bayern, N. J. Emery. Exploring individual and social learning in jackdaws (Corvus monedula). Learning & Behavior. 2019; 47 (3):258-270.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIra G. Federspiel; Markus Boeckle; A. M. P. Von Bayern; N. J. Emery. 2019. "Exploring individual and social learning in jackdaws (Corvus monedula)." Learning & Behavior 47, no. 3: 258-270.
Self‐control is critical for both humans and nonhuman animals because it underlies complex cognitive abilities, such as decision‐making and future planning, enabling goal‐directed behavior. For instance, it is positively associated with social competence and life success measures in humans. We present the first review of delay of gratification as a measure of self‐control in nonhuman primates, corvids (crow family) and psittacines (parrot order): disparate groups that show comparable advanced cognitive abilities and similar socio‐ecological factors. We compare delay of gratification performance and identify key issues and outstanding areas for future research, including finding the best measures and drivers of delayed gratification. Our review therefore contributes to our understanding of both delayed gratification as a measure of self‐control and of complex cognition in animals. This article is categorized under: Cognitive Biology > Evolutionary Roots of Cognition Psychology > Comparative Psychology
Rachael Miller; Markus Boeckle; Sarah A. Jelbert; Anna Frohnwieser; Claudia A. F. Wascher; Nicola S. Clayton. Self‐control in crows, parrots and nonhuman primates. WIREs Cognitive Science 2019, 10, e1504 .
AMA StyleRachael Miller, Markus Boeckle, Sarah A. Jelbert, Anna Frohnwieser, Claudia A. F. Wascher, Nicola S. Clayton. Self‐control in crows, parrots and nonhuman primates. WIREs Cognitive Science. 2019; 10 (6):e1504.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRachael Miller; Markus Boeckle; Sarah A. Jelbert; Anna Frohnwieser; Claudia A. F. Wascher; Nicola S. Clayton. 2019. "Self‐control in crows, parrots and nonhuman primates." WIREs Cognitive Science 10, no. 6: e1504.
In cities and densely populated areas, several corvid species are considered nuisance animals. In Austria, particularly carrion (Corvus corone) and hooded crows (C. cornix) are regarded as pests by the general public that frequently cause damage to crops, feed on human waste, and thus spread trash. We conducted a detailed one-year field survey to estimate the abundance of carrion crows in relation to potential anthropogenic food sources and reference sites in the Austrian Rhine valley. Our results demonstrated that the number and proximity of waste management facilities, animal feeding areas, and agricultural areas, and the productive capacity of agricultural areas, predominantly influenced habitat choice and abundance of carrion crows. In the current study, the probability of observing more than two carrion crows at a survey site decreased with increasing human population density. Moreover, the abundance of crows increased despite a continuous increase in crow hunting kills registered during the past 25 years. Our study suggests a regionally comprehensive waste management plan could serve as a promising strategy to manage nuisance birds. A reduction in anthropogenic food supply through improved waste management practices is required for long-term, sustainable management to limit the abundance of crow populations in and close to urban environments.
Doris Preininger; Bjoern Schoas; Diether Kramer; Markus Boeckle. Waste Disposal Sites as All-You-Can Eat Buffets for Carrion Crows (Corvus corone). Animals 2019, 9, 215 .
AMA StyleDoris Preininger, Bjoern Schoas, Diether Kramer, Markus Boeckle. Waste Disposal Sites as All-You-Can Eat Buffets for Carrion Crows (Corvus corone). Animals. 2019; 9 (5):215.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDoris Preininger; Bjoern Schoas; Diether Kramer; Markus Boeckle. 2019. "Waste Disposal Sites as All-You-Can Eat Buffets for Carrion Crows (Corvus corone)." Animals 9, no. 5: 215.
SummaryOne of the mysteries of animal problem-solving is the extent to which animals mentally represent problems in their minds. Humans can imagine both the solution to a problem and the stages along the way [1–3], such as when we plan one or two moves ahead in chess. The extent to which other animals can do the same is far less clear [4–25]. Here, we presented New Caledonian crows with a series of metatool problems where each stage was out of sight of the others and the crows had to avoid either a distractor apparatus containing a non-functional tool or a non-functional apparatus containing a functional tool. Crows were able to mentally represent the sub-goals and goals of metatool problems: crows kept in mind the location and identities of out-of-sight tools and apparatuses while planning and performing a sequence of tool behaviors. This provides the first conclusive evidence that birds can plan several moves ahead while using tools.
Romana Gruber; Martina Schiestl; Markus Boeckle; Anna Frohnwieser; Rachael Miller; Russell D. Gray; Nicola S. Clayton; Alex H. Taylor. New Caledonian Crows Use Mental Representations to Solve Metatool Problems. Current Biology 2019, 29, 686 -692.e3.
AMA StyleRomana Gruber, Martina Schiestl, Markus Boeckle, Anna Frohnwieser, Rachael Miller, Russell D. Gray, Nicola S. Clayton, Alex H. Taylor. New Caledonian Crows Use Mental Representations to Solve Metatool Problems. Current Biology. 2019; 29 (4):686-692.e3.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRomana Gruber; Martina Schiestl; Markus Boeckle; Anna Frohnwieser; Rachael Miller; Russell D. Gray; Nicola S. Clayton; Alex H. Taylor. 2019. "New Caledonian Crows Use Mental Representations to Solve Metatool Problems." Current Biology 29, no. 4: 686-692.e3.
Humans use a variety of cues to infer an object's weight, including how easily objects can be moved. For example, if we observe an object being blown down the street by the wind, we can infer that it is light. Here, we tested whether New Caledonian crows make this type of inference. After training that only one type of object (either light or heavy) was rewarded when dropped into a food dispenser, birds observed pairs of novel objects (one light and one heavy) suspended from strings in front of an electric fan. The fan was either on—creating a breeze which buffeted the light, but not the heavy, object—or off, leaving both objects stationary. In subsequent test trials, birds could drop one, or both, of the novel objects into the food dispenser. Despite having no opportunity to handle these objects prior to testing, birds touched the correct object (light or heavy) first in 73% of experimental trials, and were at chance in control trials. Our results suggest that birds used pre-existing knowledge about the behaviour exhibited by differently weighted objects in the wind to infer their weight, using this information to guide their choices.
Sarah Jelbert; Rachael Miller; Martina Schiestl; Markus Boeckle; Lucy G. Cheke; Russell D. Gray; Alex H. Taylor; Nicola S. Clayton. New Caledonian crows infer the weight of objects from observing their movements in a breeze. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences 2019, 286, 20182332 .
AMA StyleSarah Jelbert, Rachael Miller, Martina Schiestl, Markus Boeckle, Lucy G. Cheke, Russell D. Gray, Alex H. Taylor, Nicola S. Clayton. New Caledonian crows infer the weight of objects from observing their movements in a breeze. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences. 2019; 286 (1894):20182332.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSarah Jelbert; Rachael Miller; Martina Schiestl; Markus Boeckle; Lucy G. Cheke; Russell D. Gray; Alex H. Taylor; Nicola S. Clayton. 2019. "New Caledonian crows infer the weight of objects from observing their movements in a breeze." Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences 286, no. 1894: 20182332.
Intelligence in large-brained vertebrates might have evolved through independent, yet similar processes based on comparable socioecological pressures and slow life histories. This convergent evolutionary route, however, cannot explain why cephalopods developed large brains and flexible behavioural repertoires: cephalopods have fast life histories and live in simple social environments. Here, we suggest that the loss of the external shell in cephalopods (i) caused a dramatic increase in predatory pressure, which in turn prevented the emergence of slow life histories, and (ii) allowed the exploitation of novel challenging niches, thus favouring the emergence of intelligence. By highlighting convergent and divergent aspects between cephalopods and large-brained vertebrates we illustrate how the evolution of intelligence might not be constrained to a single evolutionary route.
Piero Amodio; Markus Boeckle; Alexandra K. Schnell; Ljerka Ostojíc; Graziano Fiorito; Nicola S. Clayton. Grow Smart and Die Young: Why Did Cephalopods Evolve Intelligence? Trends in Ecology & Evolution 2019, 34, 45 -56.
AMA StylePiero Amodio, Markus Boeckle, Alexandra K. Schnell, Ljerka Ostojíc, Graziano Fiorito, Nicola S. Clayton. Grow Smart and Die Young: Why Did Cephalopods Evolve Intelligence? Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 2019; 34 (1):45-56.
Chicago/Turabian StylePiero Amodio; Markus Boeckle; Alexandra K. Schnell; Ljerka Ostojíc; Graziano Fiorito; Nicola S. Clayton. 2019. "Grow Smart and Die Young: Why Did Cephalopods Evolve Intelligence?" Trends in Ecology & Evolution 34, no. 1: 45-56.
African savanna elephants live in dynamic fission–fusion societies and exhibit a sophisticated vocal communication system. Their most frequent call-type is the ‘rumble’, with a fundamental frequency (which refers to the lowest vocal fold vibration rate when producing a vocalization) near or in the infrasonic range. Rumbles are used in a wide variety of behavioral contexts, for short- and long-distance communication, and convey contextual and physical information. For example, maturity (age and size) is encoded in male rumbles by formant frequencies (the resonance frequencies of the vocal tract), having the most informative power. As sound propagates, however, its spectral and temporal structures degrade progressively. Our study used manipulated and resynthesized male social rumbles to simulate large and small individuals (based on different formant values) to quantify whether this phenotypic information efficiently transmits over long distances. To examine transmission efficiency and the potential influences of ecological factors, we broadcasted and re-recorded rumbles at distances of up to 1.5 km in two different habitats at the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. Our results show that rumbles were affected by spectral–temporal degradation over distance. Interestingly and unlike previous findings, the transmission of formants was better than that of the fundamental frequency. Our findings demonstrate the importance of formant frequencies for the efficiency of rumble propagation and the transmission of information content in a savanna elephant’s natural habitat.
Anton Baotic; Maxime Garcia; Markus Boeckle; Angela Stoeger. Field Propagation Experiments of Male African Savanna Elephant Rumbles: A Focus on the Transmission of Formant Frequencies. Animals 2018, 8, 167 .
AMA StyleAnton Baotic, Maxime Garcia, Markus Boeckle, Angela Stoeger. Field Propagation Experiments of Male African Savanna Elephant Rumbles: A Focus on the Transmission of Formant Frequencies. Animals. 2018; 8 (10):167.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnton Baotic; Maxime Garcia; Markus Boeckle; Angela Stoeger. 2018. "Field Propagation Experiments of Male African Savanna Elephant Rumbles: A Focus on the Transmission of Formant Frequencies." Animals 8, no. 10: 167.
Markus Boeckle; Nicola S. Clayton. Theory of Mind. Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior 2018, 1 -12.
AMA StyleMarkus Boeckle, Nicola S. Clayton. Theory of Mind. Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. 2018; ():1-12.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkus Boeckle; Nicola S. Clayton. 2018. "Theory of Mind." Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior , no. : 1-12.
Acoustic parameters of animal signals have been shown to correlate with various phenotypic characteristics of the sender. These acoustic characteristics can be learned and categorized and thus are a basis for perceivers’ recognition abilities. One of the most demanding capacities is individual recognition, achievable only after repeated interactions with the same individual. Still, class-level recognition might be potentially important to perceivers who have not previously encountered callers but can classify unknown individuals according to the already learned categories. Especially for species with high fission-fusion dynamics that repeatedly encounter unknown individuals it may be advantageous to develop class-level recognition. We tested whether frequency-, temporal-, and amplitude-related acoustic parameters of vocalizations emitted by ravens, a species showing high fission-fusion dynamics in non-breeder aggregations, are connected to phenotypic characteristics and thus have the potential for class-level recognition. The analysis of 418 food calls revealed that some components summarizing acoustic parameters were differentiated by age-classes and sex. Together, the results provide evidence for the co-variation of vocal characteristics and respective sex and age categories, a prerequisite for class-level recognition in perceivers. Perceivers that are ignorant of the caller’s identity can thus potentially recognize these class-level differences for decision-making processes in feeding contexts.
Markus Boeckle; Georgine Szipl; Thomas Bugnyar. Raven food calls indicate sender’s age and sex. Frontiers in Zoology 2018, 15, 1 -9.
AMA StyleMarkus Boeckle, Georgine Szipl, Thomas Bugnyar. Raven food calls indicate sender’s age and sex. Frontiers in Zoology. 2018; 15 (1):1-9.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkus Boeckle; Georgine Szipl; Thomas Bugnyar. 2018. "Raven food calls indicate sender’s age and sex." Frontiers in Zoology 15, no. 1: 1-9.
Background. Chronic pain (CP) and sleep disorders (SD) are highly prevalent in the general population. However, comprehensive data regarding the prevalence and characteristics of pain and SD in primary care are rare. Methods. From N = 57 8 patients N = 57 0 were included within 8 weeks (mean age: 50.8 ± 18.7 years, females: 289). Sociodemographic data, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and parts of a self-report questionnaire for pain (Multidimensional German Pain Questionnaire) were recorded and additional medical information (pain medication, sleep medication) was gathered from the patient charts. Results. Of the total sample, 33.2% ( n = 189 ) suffer from CP (pain ≥ 6 months) and 29.1% ( n = 166 ) from SD. 45.5% of the CP patients suffer from SD and 26.5% from clinical insomnia (ISI ≥ 15). SD (β = 0.872, SE = 0.191, t = 4,572, p < 0.001 , CI [0.497; 1.246]) and older age (β = 0.025, SE = 0.005, t = 5.135, p < 0.001 , CI [0.015; 0.035]) were significantly associated with pain experience. Conclusion. About a quarter of CP patients suffer from clinical insomnia. The suggested bidirectional relation should be considered during comprehensive assessment and treatment of patients.
Robert Jank; Alexander Gallee; Markus Boeckle; Sabine Fiegl; Christoph Pieh. Chronic Pain and Sleep Disorders in Primary Care. Pain Research and Treatment 2017, 2017, 1 -9.
AMA StyleRobert Jank, Alexander Gallee, Markus Boeckle, Sabine Fiegl, Christoph Pieh. Chronic Pain and Sleep Disorders in Primary Care. Pain Research and Treatment. 2017; 2017 ():1-9.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobert Jank; Alexander Gallee; Markus Boeckle; Sabine Fiegl; Christoph Pieh. 2017. "Chronic Pain and Sleep Disorders in Primary Care." Pain Research and Treatment 2017, no. : 1-9.
The human brain stores memories of past events to guide decision-making about current and future events. Researchers long assumed that animals do not use memories in this way but rather exist in a constant stream of present needs, unable to plan for the future (1). Studies on nonhuman primates and corvids challenge this view and show that some species can plan for the future at least as well as 4-year old children (2, 3). These results suggest that planning for the future is not uniquely human and evolved independently in distantly related species to address common problems (4). On page 202 of this issue, Kabadayi and Osvath (5) show that ravens anticipate the nature, time, and location of a future event based on previous experiences. The ravens' behavior is not merely prospective, anticipating future states (6); rather, they flexibly apply future planning in behaviors not typically seen in the wild.
Markus Boeckle; Nicola Clayton. A raven's memories are for the future. Science 2017, 357, 126 -127.
AMA StyleMarkus Boeckle, Nicola Clayton. A raven's memories are for the future. Science. 2017; 357 (6347):126-127.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkus Boeckle; Nicola Clayton. 2017. "A raven's memories are for the future." Science 357, no. 6347: 126-127.
Language's intentional nature has been highlighted as a crucial feature distinguishing it from other communication systems. Specifically, language is often thought to depend on highly structured intentional action and mutual mindreading by a communicator and recipient. Whilst similar abilities in animals can shed light on the evolution of intentionality, they remain challenging to detect unambiguously. We revisit animal intentional communication and suggest that progress in identifying analogous capacities has been complicated by (i) the assumption that intentional (that is, voluntary) production of communicative acts requires mental-state attribution, and (ii) variation in approaches investigating communication across sensory modalities. To move forward, we argue that a framework fusing research across modalities and species is required. We structure intentional communication into a series of requirements, each of which can be operationalised, investigated empirically, and must be met for purposive, intentionally communicative acts to be demonstrated. Our unified approach helps elucidate the distribution of animal intentional communication and subsequently serves to clarify what is meant by attributions of intentional communication in animals and humans.
Simon W. Townsend; Sonja Koski; Richard Byrne; Katie E. Slocombe; Balthasar Bickel; Markus Boeckle; Ines Braga Goncalves; Judith M. Burkart; Tom Flower; Florence Gaunet; Hans Johann Glock; Thibaud Gruber; David A. W. A. M. Jansen; Katja Liebal; Angelika Linke; Ádám Miklósi; Richard Moore; Carel P. Van Schaik; Sabine Stoll; Alex Vail; Bridget Waller; Markus Wild; Klaus Zuberbühler; Marta B. Manser. Exorcising Grice's ghost: an empirical approach to studying intentional communication in animals. Biological Reviews 2016, 92, 1427 -1433.
AMA StyleSimon W. Townsend, Sonja Koski, Richard Byrne, Katie E. Slocombe, Balthasar Bickel, Markus Boeckle, Ines Braga Goncalves, Judith M. Burkart, Tom Flower, Florence Gaunet, Hans Johann Glock, Thibaud Gruber, David A. W. A. M. Jansen, Katja Liebal, Angelika Linke, Ádám Miklósi, Richard Moore, Carel P. Van Schaik, Sabine Stoll, Alex Vail, Bridget Waller, Markus Wild, Klaus Zuberbühler, Marta B. Manser. Exorcising Grice's ghost: an empirical approach to studying intentional communication in animals. Biological Reviews. 2016; 92 (3):1427-1433.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSimon W. Townsend; Sonja Koski; Richard Byrne; Katie E. Slocombe; Balthasar Bickel; Markus Boeckle; Ines Braga Goncalves; Judith M. Burkart; Tom Flower; Florence Gaunet; Hans Johann Glock; Thibaud Gruber; David A. W. A. M. Jansen; Katja Liebal; Angelika Linke; Ádám Miklósi; Richard Moore; Carel P. Van Schaik; Sabine Stoll; Alex Vail; Bridget Waller; Markus Wild; Klaus Zuberbühler; Marta B. Manser. 2016. "Exorcising Grice's ghost: an empirical approach to studying intentional communication in animals." Biological Reviews 92, no. 3: 1427-1433.
Conversion Disorders (CD) are prevalent functional disorders. Although the pathogenesis is still not completely understood, an interaction of genetic, neurobiological, and psychosocial factors is quite likely. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic overview on imaging studies on CDs and investigate neuronal areas involved in Motor Conversion Disorders (MCD). A systematic literature search was conducted on CD. Subsequently a meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies on MCD was implemented using an Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE). We calculated differences between patients and healthy controls as well as between affected versus unaffected sides in addition to an overall analysis in order to identify neuronal areas related to MCD. Patients with MCD differ from healthy controls in the amygdala, superior temporal lobe, retrosplenial area, primary motor cortex, insula, red nucleus, thalamus, anterior as well as dorsolateral prefrontal and frontal cortex. When comparing affected versus unaffected sides, temporal cortex, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, supramarginal gyrus, dorsal temporal lobe, anterior insula, primary somatosensory cortex, superior frontal gyrus and anterior prefrontal as well as frontal cortex show significant differences. Neuronal areas seem to be involved in the pathogenesis, maintenance or as a result of MCD. Areas that are important for motor-planning, motor-selection or autonomic response seem to be especially relevant. Our results support the emotional unawareness theory but also underline the need of more support by conduction imaging studies on both CD and MCD.
Markus Boeckle; Gregor Liegl; Robert Jank; Christoph Pieh. Neural correlates of conversion disorder: overview and meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies on motor conversion disorder. BMC Psychiatry 2016, 16, 195 .
AMA StyleMarkus Boeckle, Gregor Liegl, Robert Jank, Christoph Pieh. Neural correlates of conversion disorder: overview and meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies on motor conversion disorder. BMC Psychiatry. 2016; 16 (1):195.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkus Boeckle; Gregor Liegl; Robert Jank; Christoph Pieh. 2016. "Neural correlates of conversion disorder: overview and meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies on motor conversion disorder." BMC Psychiatry 16, no. 1: 195.
Up to 30% of the population in Western countries suffer from chronic pain. The treatment of chronic pain causes medical and socioeconomic problems. Guided self‐help (GSH) might be an effective supplementary treatment, however, the size of this effect is unclear. This meta‐analysis quantifies the effect of GSH on chronic pain. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, Psyndex, Psycinfo and Scopus. Studies that investigated GSH in chronic pain conditions (children and adults) were included. Disability, quality of life and pain severity were defined as main outcomes. We conducted random effects models to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs). By applying mixed models and subgroup analyses, we examined the moderating effects of sample characteristics (age; pain region), GSH format (online; face‐to‐face contact) and study characteristics (study quality; control condition). We identified 16 eligible studies, including 739 subjects. Between‐group analyses resulted in a medium, but heterogeneous effect size for pain severity (SMD = 0.51; CI95: 0.21, 0.81). After excluding two samples suggesting small study bias, the effect on pain severity was small but homogeneous (SMD = 0.34; CI95: 0.13, 0.54). We found a small effect size for disability (SMD = 0.30; CI95: 0.10, 0.50). The pooled effect size for quality of life did not reach significance (SMD = 0.24; CI95: −0.07, 0.54). We conclude that GSH has a small but robust effect on pain severity and disability in chronic pain patients. This applies to various GSH formats and patient populations. It seems reasonable to integrate GSH into clinical practice as a supplemental treatment option. What does this review add? The present meta‐analytic review found small but robust effects of guided self‐help interventions for the treatment of chronic pain.
Gregor Liegl; Markus Boeckle; A. Leitner; Christoph Pieh. A meta-analytic review of brief guided self-help education for chronic pain. European Journal of Pain 2016, 20, 1551 -1562.
AMA StyleGregor Liegl, Markus Boeckle, A. Leitner, Christoph Pieh. A meta-analytic review of brief guided self-help education for chronic pain. European Journal of Pain. 2016; 20 (10):1551-1562.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGregor Liegl; Markus Boeckle; A. Leitner; Christoph Pieh. 2016. "A meta-analytic review of brief guided self-help education for chronic pain." European Journal of Pain 20, no. 10: 1551-1562.