Biologists have discovered in ravens one of the main properties of consciousness - the ability to evaluate the thought processes of competitors. The research results were published by the authors in the journal Nature Communications, and they are briefly reported in a press release from the University of Houston posted on the EurekAlert!
Biologists have observed crows guarding their food caches from other crows through a wall with a gate and a small opening. In the case when the shutter was opened and the bird saw another bird, the first showed signs of anxiety and guarded its cache.
When the shutter was closed and the opening was open, so that the bird could not see the other animal, but could hear it, the raven was still worried. In the third trial, when the shutter and opening were closed, the bird showed no concern even when hearing another animal.
Research shows that crows behave differently not only when they see their competitors, but also when they assume that the latter can observe them. This behavior is one of the manifestations of consciousness and is characteristic of humans, as well as, as biologists believe, chimpanzees. Separate signs of consciousness (self-recognition) are also characteristic of dolphins and, probably, elephants.