Animal Intelligence.docx

Animal intelligence is an interesting issue that has aroused the curiosity of the human being. The subject has provoked controversies among the scientist community due to a disagreement about the intelligence term. The passage describes a study with chimpanzees where the emotional behaviour was analyzed. In addition, the brain activity and the reactions to emotions of happiness and sadness expressed by the animals were registered. In fact, the brain activity changed according to the emotions shown. The author introduces another study which aims was to determine self recognition in animals; Dolphins and elephants were placed in front of a mirror to verify whether they could recognize themselves or not. Moreover, some of them were marked in their bodies and, according to the reaction shown, it could be said that they recognize themselves in their mirror images. Yet, contrary to the afore said, the author explains that there are several disagreements around animals’ intelligence subject. Firstly, the scientific community is not able to unify the term intelligence and its meaning. Secondly, there is a disparity of ways to interpret animals behaviour. The lecture focuses on how to describe and measure animal’s intelligence. For that purpose, selfrecognition tests were made. Some animals were marked on their faces and shown in a mirror. If the animal tries to wipe the paint or get closer means, according to scientist, that they recognize their image reflected. Similarly, a mirror was placed in a dolphin’s tank. Whenever they feel the contact with the marker they tend to rush to the mirror to look at the paint or check if they have been marked. Likewise, another animals such as elephants, orangutans or chimpanzees used to behave in a similar way. Despite the evidence shown, not all scientists think that it is enough to prove the relation between the image and self. Many controversies still remain.