The research study presents in detail, an investigation of whether pigs have the capability of playing a video game task that’s joystick-operated.
Scientists recently discovered that pigs could be trained so they can play video games, and they discovered such by demonstrating the potential of the said animals for a notable level of both mental and behavioral flexibility.
A BBC report showed a channel of information on the so-called “piggy players,” which they got from a study that came out in a journal entry on Frontiers in Psychology.
The research study presents in detail, an investigation of whether pigs have the capability of playing a video game task that’s joystick-operated, involving four pigs namely “Hamlet, Omelet, Ivory and Ebony.”
The four pigs, as seen in the video posted on Universal Information & Entertainment TV’s YouTube channel, were trained to move a joystick-operated using their snouts in order to steer a cursor on screen. The said pigs were required to move the on-screen cursor in order to make contact with targets which are randomly positioned. These animals were given a reward when the cursor collided with a specific target.
Ability to Acquire the Joystick-Operated Video Game Task
Ultimately, the study investigators got satisfied that the pigs had the capacity and ability to acquire the joystick-operated video game task, although they noted too, that future research into domestic species’ cognitive behaviors may benefit from the use touchscreen devices, or any other computer-operated technology because of dexterity to optical constraints as all four subjects, in this circumstance, were found to be farsighted.
Similar studies have been conducted engaging monkeys and chimpanzees, that have been proven to have more abilities and skilled, with their opposable thumbs and individually moving fingers, giving them such a benefit.
It stays unseen though, what might take place when a monkey is playing video games using its own mind. Commenting on this latest finding, observers said, SpaceX’s Elon Musk might find the answer soon, as he used to claim that one of his companies has imbedded a device into the brain of a monkey, with the hope to make it play the “mind pong” game with another cyborg monkey.
Originally published at The Science Times