Study shows snake's ability to learn.

Amadeus · 06-25-13, 04:06 PM

In my opinion for something to "learn" it must be sentient being.

Example, it has been well documented that primates can learn and solve problems but we know that they have higher brain function and their own kind of emotion, but a snake is known to have limited cognitive capabilities and it is illogical to assume that they can ''learn" as we think of it but rather develop a means to continue living.

**Pareeeee** · 06-25-13, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amadeus

In my opinion for something to "learn" it must be sentient being.

Example, it has been well documented that primates can learn and solve problems but we know that they have higher brain function and their own kind of emotion, but a snake is known to have limited cognitive capabilities and it is illogical to assume that they can ''learn" as we think of it but rather develop a means to continue living.

Dogs learn, rats learn, cats learn, ravens learn, dolphins learn, none of which are "sentient" beings.

Amadeus · 06-25-13, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pareeeee

Dogs learn, rats learn, cats learn, ravens learn, dolphins learn, none of which are "sentient" beings.

You didn't get it....

**Pareeeee** · 06-25-13, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amadeus

You didn't get it....

Oh I do get what you said. I just disagree with it. I think we will have to agree to disagree on this topic. IMO snakes obviously "learn" - not to the extent that mammals and birds do - but they do remember things, such as feeding tongs mean "food" and as the article stated, how to locate the hiding spot quickly from memory. The article didn't try to convince us that they are as smart as primates, but that they have good memory-recall abilities. It makes sense, having good memory of certain things can increase your odds of survival.

PS: I enjoy the way you insert trekkie grammar and words into your sentences, only another trekkie (moi) would pick up on because I do it myself.

Mikoh4792 · 06-25-13, 08:53 PM

Doesn't any living thing with memory have the ability to learn? No matter how simple it's memory is, it's still learning isn't it?

**Pareeeee** · 06-25-13, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

Doesn't any living thing with memory have the ability to learn? No matter how simple it's memory is, it's still learning isn't it?

Agreed, even my fish (an animal often considered less intelligent than snakes) go nuts as soon as they see the food container. Fish in the wild would have no idea what it was but mine remember because they have learned a visual cue. Learning is learning, higher animals can just learn more complex things.

Amadeus · 06-25-13, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pareeeee

Oh I do get what you said. I just disagree with it. I think we will have to agree to disagree on this topic. IMO snakes obviously "learn" - not to the extent that mammals and birds do - but they do remember things, such as feeding tongs mean "food" and as the article stated, how to locate the hiding spot quickly from memory. The article didn't try to convince us that they are as smart as primates, but that they have good memory-recall abilities. It makes sense, having good memory of certain things can increase your odds of survival.

PS: I enjoy the way you insert trekkie grammar and words into your sentences, only another trekkie (moi) would pick up on because I do it myself.

Hahah ok,

The M class planet 2 light years from our current position is inhabited by a race of proto-Vulcan Humanoids....

I couldn't resist.

bcr226 · 06-28-13, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amadeus

In my opinion for something to "learn" it must be sentient being.

Example, it has been well documented that primates can learn and solve problems but we know that they have higher brain function and their own kind of emotion, but a snake is known to have limited cognitive capabilities and it is illogical to assume that they can ''learn" as we think of it but rather develop a means to continue living.

Snakes learn. Like my wife said above, look at hook training. It's not a suggestion, it's a fact that it works. The snake learns to respond in certain ways to specific stimuli. It's not a natural instinct, it's a learned behavior.

This is a great subject for a science project for my daughter. I'll bring it up with her.