1
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Zhang Y, Yang L, Pohl P, Xu F, Liu F. The white-browed laughingthrush ( Pterorhinus sannio) did not pass the mirror self-recognition test. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2023.2178032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Department of Public Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, China
| | - Liqiong Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, China
| | - Peter Pohl
- Child Psychology Practice Garmisch, Garmisch-Partenkirchen 82467, Germany
| | - Fan Xu
- Department of Public Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, China
| | - Fangfang Liu
- Art College, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
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2
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Baciadonna L, Cornero FM, Clayton NS, Emery NJ. Mirror stimulation in Eurasian jays ( Garrulus glandarius). PeerJ 2023; 11:e14729. [PMID: 36819998 PMCID: PMC9938653 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mirror exposure elicits a wide range of behavioral responses, some of which have been considered as part of possible evidence of mirror self-recognition (MSR). These responses can range from social behaviors, indicating that an animal considers its own reflection as a conspecific, to mirror-guided and self-directed actions. Evidence of MSR has been found categorically in only a few species, such as in magpies, chimpanzees, horses, and elephants. Evidence in corvids is currently debated due to inconsistent findings. In this study, we investigated the reaction of Eurasian jays when presenting them with three mirror-stimulation tasks. Based on the overall behavioral patterns across these three tasks, conclusions about birds' understanding of a reflective surface, and their perception of the reflection as either themselves or as a conspecific, appear premature. We highlight how the high neophobia of corvids and other methodological constraints might have hindered the likelihood to approach and explore a mirror, preventing the emergence of behaviors typically associated with MSR. Furthermore, we discuss how motivational factors, methodological constraints and species differences should be considered when interpreting behavioral responses to mirrors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Baciadonna
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom,Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Nicola S. Clayton
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nathan J. Emery
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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3
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Ehret G, Romand R. Awareness and consciousness in humans and animals – neural and behavioral correlates in an evolutionary perspective. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:941534. [PMID: 35910003 PMCID: PMC9331465 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.941534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Awareness or consciousness in the context of stimulus perception can directly be assessed in well controlled test situations with humans via the persons’ reports about their subjective experiences with the stimuli. Since we have no direct access to subjective experiences in animals, their possible awareness or consciousness in stimulus perception tasks has often been inferred from behavior and cognitive abilities previously observed in aware and conscious humans. Here, we analyze published human data primarily on event-related potentials and brain-wave generation during perception and responding to sensory stimuli and extract neural markers (mainly latencies of evoked-potential peaks and of gamma-wave occurrence) indicating that a person became aware or conscious of the perceived stimulus. These neural correlates of consciousness were then applied to sets of corresponding data from various animals including several species of mammals, and one species each of birds, fish, cephalopods, and insects. We found that the neural markers from studies in humans could also successfully be applied to the mammal and bird data suggesting that species in these animal groups can become subjectively aware of and conscious about perceived stimuli. Fish, cephalopod and insect data remained inconclusive. In an evolutionary perspective we have to consider that both awareness of and consciousness about perceived stimuli appear as evolved, attention-dependent options added to the ongoing neural activities of stimulus processing and action generation. Since gamma-wave generation for functional coupling of brain areas in aware/conscious states is energetically highly cost-intensive, it remains to be shown which animal species under which conditions of lifestyle and ecological niche may achieve significant advantages in reproductive fitness by drawing upon these options. Hence, we started our discussion about awareness and consciousness in animals with the question in how far these expressions of brain activity are necessary attributes for perceiving stimuli and responding in an adaptive way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günter Ehret
- Institute of Neurobiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- *Correspondence: Günter Ehret,
| | - Raymond Romand
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), University of Strasbourg and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Strasbourg, France
- Raymond Romand,
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4
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Baciadonna L, Cornero FM, Clayton NS, Emery NJ. Mirror-mediated string-pulling task in Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius). Anim Cogn 2021; 25:691-700. [PMID: 34913110 PMCID: PMC9107426 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01590-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Mirror tasks can be used to investigate whether animals can instrumentally use a mirror to solve problems and can understand the correspondence between reflections and the real objects they represent. Two bird species, a corvid (New Caledonian crow) and a parrot (African grey parrot), have demonstrated the ability to use mirrors instrumentally in mirror-mediated spatial locating tasks. However, they have not been challenged with a mirror-guided reaching task, which involves a more complex understanding of the mirror’s properties. In the present study, a task approximating the mirror-guided reaching task used in primate studies was adapted for, and given to, a corvid species (Eurasian jay) using a horizontal string-pulling paradigm. Four birds learned to pull the correct string to retrieve a food reward when they could see the food directly, whereas none used the reflected information to accomplish the same objective. Based on these results, it cannot be concluded whether these birds understand the correspondence between the location of the reward and its reflected information, or if the relative lack of visual-perceptual motor feedback given by the setup interfered with their performance. This novel task is posited to be conceptually more difficult compared to mirror-mediated spatial locating tasks, and should be used in avian species that have previously been successful at using the mirror instrumentally. This would establish whether these species can still succeed at it, and thus whether the task does indeed pose additional cognitive demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Baciadonna
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK. .,Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK. .,Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Francesca M Cornero
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Nicola S Clayton
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Nathan J Emery
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK.
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5
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Parishar P, Mohapatra AN, Iyengar S. Investigating Behavioral Responses to Mirrors and the Mark Test in Adult Male Zebra Finches and House Crows. Front Psychol 2021; 12:637850. [PMID: 33935888 PMCID: PMC8082158 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Earlier evidence suggests that besides humans, some species of mammals and birds demonstrate visual self-recognition, assessed by the controversial “mark” test. Whereas, there are high levels of inter-individual differences amongst a single species, some species such as macaques and pigeons which do not spontaneously demonstrate mirror self-recognition (MSR) can be trained to do so. We were surprised to discover that despite being widely used as a model system for avian research, the performance of zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata) on the mark test had not been studied earlier. Additionally, we studied the behavioral responses of another species of passerine songbirds (Indian house crows; Corvus splendens) to a mirror and the MSR mark test. Although a small number of adult male zebra finches appeared to display heightened responses toward the mark while observing their reflections, we could not rule out the possibility that these were a part of general grooming rather than specific to the mark. Furthermore, none of the house crows demonstrated mark-directed behavior or increased self-exploratory behaviors when facing mirrors. Our study suggests that self-directed behaviors need to be tested more rigorously in adult male zebra finches while facing their reflections and these findings need to be replicated in a larger population, given the high degree of variability in mirror-directed behaviors.
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6
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Geberzahn N, Zsebők S, Derégnaucourt S. Auditory perception of self and others in zebra finches: evidence from an operant discrimination task. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.233817. [PMID: 33653723 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.233817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Vocal communication is essential for social interactions in many animal species. For this purpose, an animal has to perceive vocal signals of conspecifics and is often also required to discriminate conspecifics. The capacity to discriminate conspecifics is particularly important in social species in which individuals interact repeatedly. In addition, auditory perception of self plays an important role for vocal learners. A vocal learner has to memorise vocalisations of conspecifics and to subsequently modify its own vocalisations in order to match the memorised vocalisations. Here, we investigated auditory perception of self and others in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), a highly gregarious songbird species and vocal learner. We used laboratory colonies in which founder males had been previously trained to produce the same song type. This resulted in artificial dialects in the song of founders and their offspring. We investigated whether those birds would be able to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics based on song. Furthermore, we examined whether they would classify their own song as familiar or unfamiliar. We found that birds were able to discriminate between songs of familiar versus unfamiliar conspecifics, despite the fact that all songs were imitations of the same song type. This suggests that such discrimination is possible even based on songs with a high acoustic similarity. None of the subjects classified their own song as unfamiliar. Three out of eight males classified their own song as familiar. Thus zebra finches might recognise their own song. Further experiments are needed to confirm such self-recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Geberzahn
- Laboratoire Ethologie Cognition Développement, UPL, Université Paris Nanterre, 92001 Nanterre Cedex, France
| | - Sándor Zsebők
- Neuro-PSI CNRS UMR 9197, Université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France.,Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, H-2163, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Sébastien Derégnaucourt
- Laboratoire Ethologie Cognition Développement, UPL, Université Paris Nanterre, 92001 Nanterre Cedex, France.,Institut Universitaire de France, 75005 Paris, France
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Rossi N, Derégnaucourt S. Mechanisms of recognition in birds and social Hymenoptera: from detection to information processing. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190483. [PMID: 32420859 PMCID: PMC7331013 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this opinion piece, we briefly review our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying auditory individual recognition in birds and chemical nest-mate recognition in social Hymenoptera. We argue that even though detection and perception of recognition cues are well studied in social Hymenoptera, the neural mechanisms remain a black box. We compare our knowledge of these insect systems with that of the well-studied avian 'song control system'. We suggest that future studies on recognition should focus on the hypothesis of a distributed template instead of trying to locate the seat of the template as recent results do not seem to point in that direction. This article is part of the theme issue 'Signal detection theory in recognition systems: from evolving models to experimental tests'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natacha Rossi
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology, University of Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 99 avenue J.-B., Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse, France
| | - Sébastien Derégnaucourt
- Laboratory Ethology Cognition Development, University Paris Nanterre, University Paris Lumières, 200 avenue de la République, 92001 Nanterre, France
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Akçay Ç, Beecher MD. Song sparrows do not discriminate between their own song and stranger song. Behav Processes 2020; 178:104184. [PMID: 32561233 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Bird song is socially learned. During song learning, the bird's hearing its own vocalization is important for normal development of song. Whether bird's own song is represented and recognized as a special category in adult birds, however, is unclear. If birds respond differently to their own songs when these are played back to them, this would be evidence for auditory self-recognition. To test this possibility, we presented song sparrow males (Melospiza melodia) playbacks of their own songs or stranger songs and measured aggressive responses as well as type matching. We found no evidence of behavioral discrimination of bird's own song relative to the (non-matching) stranger song. These findings cast doubt on an earlier proposal that song sparrows display auditory self-recognition and support the common assumption in playback experiments that bird's own song is perceived as stranger song.
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Affiliation(s)
- Çağlar Akçay
- Department of Psychology, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Michael D Beecher
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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9
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Brecht KF, Nieder A. Parting self from others: Individual and self-recognition in birds. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 116:99-108. [PMID: 32534901 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Individual recognition is the ability to differentiate between conspecifics based on their individual features. It forms the basis of many complex communicative and social behaviours. Here, we review studies investigating individual recognition in the auditory and visual domain in birds. It is well established that auditory signals are used by many birds to discriminate conspecifics. In songbirds, the neuronal structures underpinning auditory recognition are associated with the song system. Individual recognition in the visual domain has mainly been explored in chickens and pigeons, and is less well understood. Currently it is unknown which visual cues birds use to identify conspecifics, and whether they have cortical areas dedicated to processing individual features. Moreover, whether birds can recognise themselves visually, as evidenced by mirror self-recognition, remains controversial. In the auditory domain, the responses of neurons in the song system suggest identification of the bird's own song. The surveyed behavioural and neural findings can provide a framework for more controlled investigations of individual recognition in birds and other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina F Brecht
- Animal Physiology Unit, Institute of Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Andreas Nieder
- Animal Physiology Unit, Institute of Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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10
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Wang L, Luo Y, Wang H, Zou Y, Yao H, Ullah S, Li Z. Azure-winged magpies fail to understand the principle of mirror imaging. Behav Processes 2020; 177:104155. [PMID: 32485232 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Mirror self-recognition (MSR) is considered a crucial step in the emergence of self-cognition. The MSR paradigm has become a standard method for evaluating self-cognition in several species. For example, Eurasian magpies and Indian house crows have passed the mark test for self-cognition, whereas efforts to find MSR in other corvid species have failed. However, no literature has conducted MSR tests on azure-winged magpies, a species of corvids. Therefore, the current research aimed to investigate the MSR behaviours of azure-winged magpies upon looking into a mirror for the first time. The study included four tests: (1) mirror preference and standardised mirror exploration, (2) single vertical mirror test, (3) mark test and (4) mirror-triggered search test. The azure-winged magpies displayed immense curiosity towards the mirror and their images in the mirror in Test 1&2. In the subsequent mark tests, they failed to recognise themselves in the mirror and regarded their images as conspecifics. Behaviour analysis showed no significant difference between marked and unmarked behaviours. Finally they seemed to infer the presence of bait from the image in the mirror, but were found to fail to understand that the location of the bait in the mirror was the same as that in the real world. For a better insight into the MSR behaviour of azure-winged magpies, research studies involving prolonged mirror exposure and training are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wang
- Lab of Animal Behavior & Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Yunchao Luo
- Lab of Animal Behavior & Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Han Wang
- Lab of Animal Behavior & Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Yibiao Zou
- Lab of Animal Behavior & Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Hanqi Yao
- Lab of Animal Behavior & Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Sana Ullah
- Lab of Animal Behavior & Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Zhongqiu Li
- Lab of Animal Behavior & Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China.
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11
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Clary D, Stow MK, Vernouillet A, Kelly DM. Mirror‐mediated responses of California scrub jays (
Aphelocoma californica
) during a caching task and the mark test. Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dawson Clary
- Department of Psychology University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB Canada
| | - Meara K. Stow
- Department of Psychology University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB Canada
| | - Alizée Vernouillet
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB Canada
| | - Debbie M. Kelly
- Department of Psychology University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB Canada
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12
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Fellow travellers in cognitive evolution: Co-evolution of working memory and mental time travel? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 105:94-105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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13
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Kraft FL, Forštová T, Utku Urhan A, Exnerová A, Brodin A. No evidence for self-recognition in a small passerine, the great tit (Parus major) judged from the mark/mirror test. Anim Cogn 2017; 20:1049-1057. [PMID: 28762195 PMCID: PMC5640729 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-017-1121-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Self-recognition is a trait presumed to be associated with high levels of cognition and something previously considered to be exclusive to humans and possibly apes. The most common test of self-recognition is the mark/mirror test of whether an animal can understand that it sees its own reflection in a mirror. The usual design is that an animal is marked with a colour spot somewhere on the body where the spot can only be seen by the animal by using a mirror. Very few species have passed this test, and among birds, only magpies have been affirmatively demonstrated to pass it. In this study, we tested great tits (Parus major), small passerines, that are known for their innovative foraging skills and good problem-solving abilities, in the mirror self-recognition test. We found no indication that they have any ability of this kind and believe that they are unlikely to be capable of this type of self-recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tereza Forštová
- Department of Zoology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - A Utku Urhan
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Alice Exnerová
- Department of Zoology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anders Brodin
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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14
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15
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Liu X, Liu T, Huang X. Commentary: Spontaneous expression of mirror self-recognition in monkeys after learning precise visual-proprioceptive association for mirror images. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1151. [PMID: 28744241 PMCID: PMC5504156 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Liu
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal UniversityNanjing, China
| | - Ting Liu
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal UniversityNanjing, China
| | - Xiaodan Huang
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal UniversityNanjing, China.,College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China
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16
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Giret N, Edeline JM, Del Negro C. Neural mechanisms of vocal imitation: The role of sleep replay in shaping mirror neurons. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 77:58-73. [PMID: 28288397 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Learning by imitation involves not only perceiving another individual's action to copy it, but also the formation of a memory trace in order to gradually establish a correspondence between the sensory and motor codes, which represent this action through sensorimotor experience. Memory and sensorimotor processes are closely intertwined. Mirror neurons, which fire both when the same action is performed or perceived, have received considerable attention in the context of imitation. An influential view of memory processes considers that the consolidation of newly acquired information or skills involves an active offline reprocessing of memories during sleep within the neuronal networks that were initially used for encoding. Here, we review the recent advances in the field of mirror neurons and offline processes in the songbird. We further propose a theoretical framework that could establish the neurobiological foundations of sensorimotor learning by imitation. We propose that the reactivation of neuronal assemblies during offline periods contributes to the integration of sensory feedback information and the establishment of sensorimotor mirroring activity at the neuronal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Giret
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay, Orsay, France.
| | - Jean-Marc Edeline
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay, Orsay, France.
| | - Catherine Del Negro
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay, Orsay, France.
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