Evidence for a we-representation in monkeys when acting together.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Primate Behavior
• Evolutionary Psychology

Background:

• Human joint action relies on adapting to others, a key evolutionary trait.
• Macaque monkeys exhibit action coordination in pairs, making them a model for studying joint action origins.
• Understanding primate cognition sheds light on the evolution of social behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the existence of a 'We-representation' in macaques.
• To determine if pre-instructing the action context (SOLO or TOGETHER) influences dyadic performance.
• To explore the neural and behavioral underpinnings of joint action in non-human primates.

Main Methods:

• Five macaques performed visuomotor isometric tasks individually and with a partner.
• Action context (SOLO or TOGETHER) was pre-cued or not.
• Behavioral and kinematic data were analyzed to assess coordination and performance.

Main Results:

• Pre-instructing the action context significantly improved dyadic performance.
• An optimal kinematic setting emerged when the context was pre-cued, facilitating coordination.
• This suggests macaques possess a 'We-representation' that enhances joint action.

Conclusions:

• Macaques exhibit a 'We-representation,' demonstrating a cognitive capacity for joint action.
• Evoking this 'We-representation' through context pre-cuing leads to improved performance and coordination.
• This finding provides empirical evidence for the evolutionary roots of social cognition and joint action in primates.