We are pleased to invite you to the next Krakow Seminar on Mathematical Cognition, this time turning from mathematical cognition to the world of animal cognition! We are hosting Kimberly Yvonne Brosche from the University of Padua on Tuesday, October 13th at 15:00 (CEST).
Abstract: Numerical cognition beyond humans: chicks and pigs
Numbers are an important part of everyday life, from keeping track of objects and individuals to comparing quantities of food. But numerical cognition is not uniquely human. Many non-human animals also need to distinguish quantities, keep track of offspring, or use numerical information to navigate their environment. In this seminar, Kimberly Yvonne Brosche will present research investigating numerical cognition in two very different species: chicks (Gallus gallus) and pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus).
The first set of studies explores whether domestication has influenced numerical cognition in chicks. By comparing three breeds differing in their history of domestication and selection for productivity, the research examines numerical discrimination, proto-arithmetic abilities, and ordinality. Interestingly, despite differences between breeds in other traits, domestication appears to have had little effect on their numerical abilities.
The second set of studies focuses on numerical cognition in semi-free-ranging Kune Kune pigs. Using touchscreen-based tasks, the research investigates how pigs discriminate between quantities and whether they can use ordinal information when making decisions. The findings suggest that pigs may rely strongly on spatial cues, although some individuals can learn to use ordinal position when spatial information becomes unreliable.
Together, these studies offer a glimpse into how numerical cognition can be investigated beyond humans, and raise broader questions about the evolutionary origins, ecological relevance, and flexibility of numerical abilities.
About the speaker:
Kimberly Brosche is currently completing her PhD at the University of Padua, Italy. Her research focuses on animal cognition, specifically farm animal cognition. In her PhD project, she explores domestication effects on numerical cognition in chicks (Gallus gallus). In addition, she has investigated numerical cognition in pigs and lemurs.
Prior to her PhD, Kimberly completed a BSc in Biology and a BA in Philosophy at the University of Vienna, Austria, in 2021. She then specialized in animal (and human) cognition and human-animal interactions during her master's studies: "Behavior, Neurobiology and Cognition" (University of Vienna, 2022), "Middle European Interdisciplinary Program in Cognitive Science" (University of Vienna and Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, 2023), and "Interdisciplinary Master's Program in Human-Animal Interactions" (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 2023).
In her master's projects, as well as during several internships and short-term projects, she primarily investigated the cognitive abilities of domestic pigs, while also gaining some insights into the behavior and cognition of humans, ravens, ground squirrels and Japanese macaques. Owing to these projects, she has maintained a strong interest not only in numerical cognition but also in other cognitive domains such as self-awareness and human-animal communication.
