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Hillemacher S, Ocklenburg S, Güntürkün O, Tiemann I. Roosters do not warn the bird in the mirror: The cognitive ecology of mirror self-recognition. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291416. [PMID: 37878556 PMCID: PMC10599514 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Touching a mark on the own body when seeing this mark in a mirror is regarded as a correlate of self-awareness and seems confined to great apes and a few further species. However, this paradigm often produces false-negative results and possibly dichotomizes a gradual evolutionary transition of self-recognition. We hypothesized that this ability is more widespread if ecologically tested and developed such a procedure for a most unlikely candidate: chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Roosters warn conspecifics when seeing an aerial predator, but not when alone. Exploiting this natural behavior, we tested individual roosters alone, with another male, or with a mirror while a hawk's silhouette flew above them. Roosters mainly emitted alarm calls in the presence of another individual but not when alone or seeing themselves in the mirror. In contrast, our birds failed the classic mirror test. Thus, chickens possibly recognize their reflection as their own, strikingly showing how much cognition is ecologically embedded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Hillemacher
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ocklenburg
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Psychology, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- ICAN Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Onur Güntürkün
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Inga Tiemann
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Reiner A. Could theropod dinosaurs have evolved to a human level of intelligence? J Comp Neurol 2023; 531:975-1006. [PMID: 37029483 PMCID: PMC10106414 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Noting that some theropod dinosaurs had large brains, large grasping hands, and likely binocular vision, paleontologist Dale Russell suggested that a branch of these dinosaurs might have evolved to a human intelligence level, had dinosaurs not become extinct. I offer reasons why the likely pallial organization in dinosaurs would have made this improbable, based on four assumptions. First, it is assumed that achieving human intelligence requires evolving an equivalent of the about 200 functionally specialized cortical areas characteristic of humans. Second, it is assumed that dinosaurs had an avian nuclear type of pallial organization, in contrast to the mammalian cortical organization. Third, it is assumed that the interactions between the different neuron types making up an information processing unit within pallium are critical to its role in analyzing information. Finally, it is assumed that increasing axonal length between the neuron sets carrying out this operation impairs its efficacy. Based on these assumptions, I present two main reasons why dinosaur pallium might have been unable to add the equivalent of 200 efficiently functioning cortical areas. First, a nuclear pattern of pallial organization would require increasing distances between the neuron groups corresponding to the separate layers of any given mammalian cortical area, as more sets of nuclei equivalent to a cortical area are interposed between the existing sets, increasing axon length and thereby impairing processing efficiency. Second, because of its nuclear organization, dinosaur pallium could not reduce axon length by folding to bring adjacent areas closer together, as occurs in cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Reiner
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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Lin Y, Pei E, Liu Q, Ma J, Zhang E, Zhao J, Chen M. Mirror responses in African grey parrot ( Psittacus erithacus) support the gradualist perspective on mirror self-recognition. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2023.2178031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China
- Yangtze Delta Estuarine Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education & Shanghai Science and Technology Committee, 38 Dongwang Avenue, Shanghai 202183, China
| | - Enle Pei
- Shanghai Zoo, 2381 Hongqiao Road, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Qunxiu Liu
- School of Health and Social Care, Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College, 2080 Nanting Road, Shanghai 201415, China
| | - Jun Ma
- Shanghai Zoo, 2381 Hongqiao Road, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Endi Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China
- Yangtze Delta Estuarine Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education & Shanghai Science and Technology Committee, 38 Dongwang Avenue, Shanghai 202183, China
| | - Junyi Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Min Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China
- Yangtze Delta Estuarine Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education & Shanghai Science and Technology Committee, 38 Dongwang Avenue, Shanghai 202183, China
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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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Vanhooland LC, Szabó A, Bugnyar T, Massen JJM. A comparative study of mirror self-recognition in three corvid species. Anim Cogn 2023; 26:229-248. [PMID: 36173469 PMCID: PMC9876878 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-022-01696-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mirror self-recognition (MSR) assessed by the Mark Test has been the staple test for the study of animal self-awareness. When tested in this paradigm, corvid species return discrepant results, with only the Eurasian magpies and the Indian house crow successfully passing the test so far, whereas multiple other corvid species fail. The lack of replicability of these positive results and the large divergence in applied methodologies calls into question whether the observed differences are in fact phylogenetic or methodological, and, if so, which factors facilitate the expression of MSR in some corvids. In this study, we (1) present new results on the self-recognition abilities of common ravens, (2) replicate results of azure-winged magpies, and (3) compare the mirror responses and performances in the mark test of these two corvid species with a third corvid species: carrion crows, previously tested following the same experimental procedure. Our results show interspecies differences in the approach of and the response to the mirror during the mirror exposure phase of the experiment as well as in the subsequent mark test. However, the performances of these species in the Mark Test do not provide any evidence for their ability of self-recognition. Our results add to the ongoing discussion about the convergent evolution of MSR and we advocate for consistent methodologies and procedures in comparing this ability across species to advance this discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa-Claire Vanhooland
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Anita Szabó
- Department of Zoology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jorg J M Massen
- Animal Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Khvatov IA, Smirnova AA, Samuleeva MV, Ershov EV, Buinitskaya SD, Kharitonov AN. Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix) May Be Aware of Their Own Body Size. Front Psychol 2021; 12:769397. [PMID: 34975660 PMCID: PMC8716556 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.769397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Body-awareness is one of the manifestations of self-awareness, expressed in the ability of people and animals to represent their own body physical properties. Relatively little work has been devoted to this phenomenon in comparison with the studies of the ability of self-recognition in the mirror, and most studies have been conducted on mammals and human infants. Crows are known to be “clever” birds, so we investigated whether hooded crows (Corvus cornix) may be aware of their own body size. We set up an experimental design in which the crows had to pass through one of three openings to reach the bait. In the first experiment, we studied whether crows prefer a larger hole if all the three are suitable for passage, and what other predictors influence their choice. In the second experiment, we assessed the ability of the crows to select a single passable hole out of three on the first attempt, even though the area of the former was smaller than that of the other two. The results of the first experiment suggest that when choosing among three passable holes, crows prefer those holes that require less effort from them, e.g., they do not need to crouch or make other additional movements. In the second experiment, three of the five crows reliably more often chose a single passable hole on the first try, despite its smaller size. We believe that these results suggest that hooded crows may be aware of their own body size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan A. Khvatov
- Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, Moscow, Russia
- *Correspondence: Ivan A. Khvatov,
| | - Anna A. Smirnova
- Department of Higher Nervous Activity, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria V. Samuleeva
- Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Higher Nervous Activity, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Svetlana D. Buinitskaya
- Department of Higher Nervous Activity, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander N. Kharitonov
- Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Psychology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Experimental Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
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