Ravens 'can imagine how others are thinking'

Ravens display a human ability to imagine how others are thinking, a study has shown. Scientists conducted an experiment proving out of sight does not have to mean out of mind for the birds, members of the crow family and a symbol of wisdom in many cultures. The discovery shows that what psychologists call the "Theory of Mind" - understanding that mental states may differ between individuals - is not confined to humans and apes. In the study, ravens were taught to be aware that they could be spied on through a peep hole as they hid a cache of food. When the peep hole was open and the recorded sound another raven played over a loudspeaker, the birds took extra care to ensure their food was placed out of sight. They did not have to see the rival peering through the peep hole, thereby providing a visual cue. The birds seemed to be able to imagine that a potential thief could be spying on them, and planted their food away from the hole. When the peep hole was closed they did not react the same way, despite hearing the raven sounds. Writing in the journal Nature Communications, the scientists led by Dr Thomas Bugnyar, from the University of Vienna in Austria, said: "We show that...

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