Pigs might not be able to fly, but give them a joystick and see what
happens.
By Jeremy Blum
Pigs are highly intelligent creatures, and a study released on Thursday has
revealed that they’re skilled gamers, too. Published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, the paper is the culmination of extensive
research into pig intelligence that began in the ’90s by scientists working
with Stanley Curtis, a “legendary swine researcher” who died in 2010. It was co-authored by
Candace Croney, director of Purdue University’s Centre for Animal Welfare
Science, and Sarah Boysen, a professor of psychology at Ohio State University
renowned for her research into chimpanzees.
The paper highlights two Yorkshire pigs named Hamlet and Omelette, and
two Panepinto micro pigs — often used in research and usually weighing 50-70
pounds — named Ebony and Ivory, all of whom were kept at Pennsylvania State
University. The pigs were trained at a “rudimentary joystick-operated
video game task” that had originally been created to test chimpanzees and
rhesus monkeys. They learned how to manipulate a joystick with their snouts to
move a computer cursor across a screen. Once they manoeuvred the cursor to hit
a wall, a treat dispenser connected to the joystick would deliver a snack.
The game had varying difficulty levels, and the number of walls that
appeared on-screen decreased from four to one. The pigs, all of whom were
far-sighted, eventually excelled at the game, though their performance varied
at the higher difficulty levels. Hamlet and Omelette were also forced to retire
after 12 weeks of training because “they had grown too large to stand long
enough to complete sessions.”
“That the pigs achieved the level of success they did on a task that was
significantly outside their normal frame of reference is itself remarkable, and
indicative of their behavioural and cognitive flexibility,” the study states,
pointing out that even when the joystick broke, the hogs “continued to make
correct responses when rewarded only with verbal and tactile reinforcement from
the experimenter, who was also their primary caretaker.”
The study notes that the pigs did not perform as well as the chimps and
rhesus monkeys, speculating that this was probably because the swine had to
move the joystick with their snouts. “Future studies of the cognitive
capacities of pigs and other domestic species may benefit from the use of
touchscreens or other advanced computer-interfaced technology,” the study concludes.
All the pigs involved in the study — aside from Omelette, who developed
health issues and had to be euthanized — lived well following their careers as
gamers. Hamlet spent the rest of his life on a bed and breakfast farm, while
Ebony and Ivory retired to a children’s zoo, Croney said.
Adapted from “Huffpost”
February 2021
QUESTION 1: [2
points] Indicate whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE and write
down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a.
The study was carried out in the 90s.
b.
If the pigs manipulate the joystick properly,
they’ll get something to eat.
c.
All the pigs could perform the game
successfully.
d.
If the joystick broke, the pigs’ performance
was worse.
QUESTION 2: [2 points] Choose only TWO of the following questions and answer them in your own words according to the text.
a.
Explain what the four pigs kept at Pennsylvania
State University had to do?
b.
What happened when the joystick broke?
c. What happened to the pigs after the study?
QUESTION 3: [1,5 points] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given. You only need to have five correct answers to get 1,5 points.
a.
Known and respected. (paragraph 1)
b.
Animal’s nose (paragraph 2)
c.
Difficulty seeing near objects (paragraph 3)
d.
Be very good at (paragraph 3)
e.
Pigs (paragraph 4)
f.
Not including (paragraph 6)
QUESTION 4: [1,5 points] Choose the correct option – a, b, c or d – for each question and COPY both the letter and the sentence that follows onto your answer sheet.
1.
Professor Boysen,
a. that
is known for her research into pigs, teaches psychology.
b. who is
known for her research into swine, teaches psychology.
c. who is
known for her research into chimpanzees, teaches psychology.
d. that
is known for her research into chimpanzees, teaches psychology.
2.
Hamlet and Omelette…
a. were
allowed to retire after three months.
b. could
retire after three months.
c. must
have retired after three months.
d. had to
retire after three months.
3.
The swine…
a. might
have done better than the chimps and monkeys if they hadn’t had to use their
snouts.
b. might
do better than the chimps and monkeys.
c. did
better than the chimps and monkeys.
d. could perform as well as the chimps and monkeys
QUESTION 5: [3 points] Write a short essay (120 – 150 words) on ONE of the following topics.
Essays up to 200 words will not be penalized.
a. Advantages and disadvantages of doing research
using animals.
b. Pigs can be as good pets as dogs. Give your opinion.
KEY
QUESTION
1
a. FALSE. the
paper is the culmination of extensive research into pig intelligence that began
in the ’90s
b.
TRUE. Once
they manoeuvred the cursor to hit a wall, a treat dispenser connected to the joystick would deliver a
snack.
c.
TRUE.
The pigs, all of whom were far-sighted, eventually excelled at the game,
d. FALSE.
even when the joystick broke, the hogs “continued to make correct responses
QUESTION 2
a. Paragraph 2
b. Paragraph 4
c. Paragraph 6
QUESTION 3
a. Renowned
b. Snout
c. Far-sighted
d. Excelled at
e. Hogs
f. Aside from
QUESTION 4
1. c. who
is known for her research into chimpanzees, teaches psychology.
2. d. had to retire after three months.
3. a. might have done better than the chimps and monkeys if they hadn’t had to use their snouts.
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