Scientists find bouba-kiki effect in three-day chicks, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Researchers discovered the bouba-kiki effect in three-day-old chicks.
• Chicks associated the sound "bouba" with round shapes and "kiki" with spiky shapes.
• The study suggests a pre-wired connection between sounds and shapes in brains.

Detailed Insights:

• The bouba-kiki effect demonstrates a non-arbitrary mapping between speech sounds and visual shapes.
• This research indicates that the ability to link sounds and shapes may be innate.
• The findings support the idea that the connection between sounds and shapes originates from perception and is not solely based on learning or cultural factors.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Bouba-Kiki Effect: The tendency to associate certain speech sounds with particular shapes.
• Perception: The ability to become aware of something through the senses.