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Cited by 28Primate Behavior and EcologyChild and Animal Learning DevelopmentAnimal Behavior and Welfare Studies

Do asian elephants (Elephas maximus) apply causal reasoning to tool-use tasks?

Nissani, Moti·2006·Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes
DOI 10.1037/0097-7403.32.1.91
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Abstract

Two experiments addressed contradictory claims about causal reasoning in elephants. In Experiment 1, 4 Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) were pretrained to remove a lid from the top of a bucket and retrieve a food reward. Subsequently, in the first 5 critical trials, when the lid was placed alongside the bucket and no longer obstructed access to the reward, each elephant continued to remove the lid before retrieving the reward. Experiment 2, which involved 11 additional elephants and variations of the original design, yielded similarly counterintuitive observations. Although the results are open to alternative interpretations, they appear more consistent with associative learning than with causal reasoning. Future applications of Fabrean methodologies (J. H. Fabre, 1915) to animal cognition are proposed.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0097-7403.32.1.91

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  • Although there were issues with the methodology of Nissani (2006), the results still suggest that elephants can store problem solutions, which in this case was removing or flipping a lid.

    “Although there were issues with the methodology of this study-which aimed to demonstrate causal reasoning but instead illustrated the complicated nature of studying cognition in heavily trained logging elephants-the results still suggest that elephants can store problem solutions, which in this case was removing or flipping a lid.”

    From Do elephants really never forget? What we know about elephant memory and a call for further investigation (2025) · cites this paper as Nissani, 2006

  • Nissani (2006) found that once Asian elephants learned to remove a lid to access a food reward, they continued to remove the lid in subsequent trials where the lid was adjacent, even though this step was no longer necessary.

    “In addition, Nissani (2006) found that once Asian elephants learned to remove a lid to access a food reward, they continued to remove the lid in subsequent trials where the lid was adjacent, even though this step was no longer necessary.”

    From Do elephants really never forget? What we know about elephant memory and a call for further investigation (2025) · cites this paper as Nissani, 2006

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Authors
Nissani, M.
Affiliations
Wayne State University (US)
Corresponding author
Nissani, Moti
Venue
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2006
Volume
32
Issue
1
Pages
91-96
ISSN
  • 0097-7403 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-2184
DOI
10.1037/0097-7403.32.1.91
OpenAlex
W2159918088
Cited by
28
References
34
Citations by year
2024: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
3.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Experimental Psychology Animal Behavior Processes (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Keywords
Asian elephant, causal reasoning, tool use, associative learning, animal cognition
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Conditioning, Operant, Decision Making, Discrimination, Psychological, Elephants, Female

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