If the pig managed to do well in the level, they got delicious food for the dogs (they used to get M&Ms,
Scientists found that, despite the limitations associated with agility and vision, pigs not only understood what was required of them, but could also achieve goals in simple computer games.
“What they were able to do wasdemonstrate superior results in meeting these goals, ”said Candice Crony, director of the Center for the Science of Animal Welfare at Purdue University. "It was quite obvious that they had some conceptual understanding of what they were asked to do."
Published research is highly anticipatedthe fruit of about 20 years of scientific work. This project involved two Yorkshire pigs - Hamlet and Omelet, and two mini-pigs Panepinto and Ebony and Ivory.
Joysticks were adapted for testing withprimates, so the ungulates had to use their muzzles and mouths to get the job done. All four pigs were found to be farsighted, so the screens had to be placed at an optimal distance for the pigs to see targets. In addition, there were additional restrictions on Yorkshire pigs. Bred for rapid growth, heavier pigs could not stay on their feet for too long.
“Although there may have been some physicalrestrictions on how well pigs could see the screen or manipulate the joystick, they clearly understood the connection between their own behavior, the joystick and what was happening on the screen, ”says Lori Marino, a neuroscientist. "The fact that they were able to find ways to manipulate the joystick really testifies to their cognitive flexibility and ingenuity, despite the fact that they often found it difficult to physically work with the test setup."
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