Evidence for kind representations in the absence of language: experiments with rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Cognition
Webb Phillips, Laurie R Santos

Abstract

How do we come to recognize and represent different kinds of objects in the world? Some developmental psychologists have hypothesized that learning language plays a crucial role in this capacity. If this hypothesis were correct, then non-linguistic animals should lack the capacity to represent objects as kinds. Previous research with rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) has shown that this species can successfully individuate different kinds of objects - monkeys who saw one kind of object hidden inside a box searched longer after finding a different kind of object. However, in these studies and the infant studies on which they were based, the objects to be individuated differed both in kind and in properties. Thus, subjects in these experiments may not be representing the kinds of objects per se, but instead only their immediate perceptual properties. Here, we show that rhesus monkeys successfully individuate different kinds of objects even when their perceptual properties are held constant. Although these data provide the best evidence to date that language is not necessary to represent kinds, we discuss our findings in terms of possible associative hypotheses as well.

References

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Citations

Jan 5, 2010·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Teodora GligaGergely Csibra
Nov 10, 2012·Memory & Cognition·Barbara C Malt, Michael R Paquet
Dec 26, 2013·Animal Cognition·Laura FontanariGiorgio Vallortigara
Jun 1, 2007·Cognition·Natacha MendesJosep Call
Dec 3, 2008·Developmental Science·Christopher W Robinson, Vladimir M Sloutsky
May 1, 2011·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Phillip Wolff, Kevin J Holmes
Sep 3, 2011·Developmental Science·Laura FontanariGiorgio Vallortigara
Jul 1, 2010·Topics in Cognitive Science·Amanda Seed, Michael Tomasello
Jul 2, 2010·Developmental Science·Webb PhillipsLaurie R Santos
Aug 19, 2007·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Fei Xu
May 5, 2016·Animal Cognition·Trix CacchioneHannes Rakoczy
Dec 30, 2016·Cognitive Science·Sarah E KoopmanJessica F Cantlon
Oct 10, 2014·Evolutionary Psychology : an International Journal of Evolutionary Approaches to Psychology and Behavior·Alexandra G RosatiLaurie R Santos
Jul 19, 2013·Evolutionary Psychology : an International Journal of Evolutionary Approaches to Psychology and Behavior·Amy E SkerryKatherine McAuliffe
Mar 2, 2019·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Hannes Rakoczy, Trix Cacchione
Nov 13, 2014·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Hannes Rakoczy, Trix Cacchione
Dec 26, 2019·Scientific Reports·Amalia P M Bastos, Alex H Taylor
Nov 17, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Frauke HildebrandtRamiro Glauer
Oct 19, 2017·Cognition·Lindsey A Drayton, Laurie R Santos

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