Irene Pepperberg of the department of psychology at Brandeis University and Harvard University, spoke about "Cognitive Abilities of Grey Parrots" during the Psychology Department's Colloquium Series Sept. 11 in Judd Hall.
Pepperberg, an animal psychologist, studied a gray parrot named Alex for 30 years, and believes he had the intelligence of a 5-year-old human, and the emotions of a 2-year-old at the time of his death in 2007. He could identify most colors, 50 objects, five shapes and various materials. The psychology colloquium series, attended by a full-house of students, staff and faculty, is coordinated by Anna Shusterman, assistant professor of psychology, and Patricia Rodriguez Mosquera, assistant professor of psychology. Upcoming colloquium series guests are listed psychology department's website. They are open to the public. (Photos by Olivia Bartlett)
Olivia Drake
Andrew Chatfield
Mike Mavredakis
James Sims