Dogs can learn and remember how toys work
www.popsci.com
The process is similar to how human babies learn that bowls and spoons are used to eat.

cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/34906055

A study in Current Biology reports that some “gifted word learner” dogs can learn category words that refer to how toys are used (such as tugging versus fetching) and extend those labels to new objects that serve the same function. In tests, these dogs chose the correct toy by function even when it looked different, a pattern reminiscent of how human infants group objects by purpose during early language learning.

Study: https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)01079-6

Other articles:

  • Dr. Wesker@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    3·
    2 days ago

    I’m using modern definitions to try to explain the experience of the gifted program in the 90s, and parents and teachers basically hoping a kid was a savant or prodigy.

    Gifted programs were like the other side of the spectrum of Special Education. Both programs were available to throw autistic kids into, depending on their perceived behavior.

      • Dr. Wesker@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        I was also, but my experience was a bit different than yours. In my case (and locale), it was essentially used as a silo for kids who were bored or acting out in class, but were deemed “smart different” and not “stupid different”.