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Long-term retention of self-recognition by chimpanzees
Suzanne Calhoun1, Robert L Thompson1
1Department of Psychology, Hunter College and the Graduate School of the City University of New York, New York.
American Journal of Primatology
|January 24, 2020
Summary
Young chimpanzees demonstrated sustained self-recognition after a year without mirrors. This finding suggests that self-awareness in chimpanzees is a stable cognitive trait, observable through mark-directed behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Primatology
- Cognitive Ethology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Self-recognition, the ability to recognize oneself in a mirror, is a key indicator of self-awareness.
- The Gallup test using a hidden mark is a standard method for assessing self-recognition in non-human animals.
- Previous research indicated that chimpanzees possess self-recognition capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if self-recognition in young chimpanzees persists after a prolonged period without mirror exposure.
- To assess the stability of self-awareness as a cognitive characteristic in chimpanzees.
Main Methods:
- Two young chimpanzees, previously confirmed positive on the Gallup dye test, were re-tested after one year without mirror access.
- Anesthesia was used to apply marks to the brow and ears of the chimpanzees.
- Following recovery, individual mirror exposure and behavioral observations, including mark-directed responses, were conducted.
Main Results:
- Both chimpanzees exhibited self-recognition by demonstrating mirror-oriented, mark-directed responses.
- Behavioral observations during mirror exposure further supported the presence of self-recognition.
- The results indicate that self-recognition was retained despite the absence of mirrors for one year.
Conclusions:
- Self-recognition in young chimpanzees is a stable characteristic, persisting over a year without mirror exposure.
- This study provides evidence for the enduring nature of self-awareness in chimpanzees.
- The findings contribute to our understanding of the cognitive abilities and self-awareness in great apes.
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