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Numerical representations in primates

M D Hauser¹, P MacNeilage, M Ware

¹Department of Anthropology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|February 20, 1996

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See all related articles

Rhesus monkeys, like human infants, can detect changes in the number of objects. This suggests that basic arithmetic abilities may have deep evolutionary roots in primates.

Area of Science:

Cognitive Science
Comparative Psychology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Human infants and nonhuman primates possess rudimentary numerical systems.
Preverbal infants demonstrate simple arithmetic abilities (addition, subtraction) using visual stimuli.
These findings suggest sophisticated cognitive representations independent of language.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the evolutionary origins of arithmetic abilities.
To determine if rhesus monkeys exhibit similar arithmetic detection capabilities as human infants.

Main Methods:

An experiment with wild rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).
Methodology mirrored studies conducted on human infants using preferential looking paradigms.
Assessed responses to additive and subtractive changes in object numerosity.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

Rhesus monkeys detected changes in the number of objects presented visually.
Results indicated sensitivity to both addition and subtraction of items.
Performance mirrored findings observed in human infant studies.

Conclusions:

Rhesus monkeys may possess rudimentary arithmetic representations.
The capacity for arithmetic may be evolutionarily conserved in primates.
Further research is needed to rule out alternative explanations for observed behaviors.