Records |
Author |
Barrett, L.; Henzi, P. |
Title |
The social nature of primate cognition |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Proceedings. Biological Sciences / The Royal Society |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc Biol Sci |
Volume |
272 |
Issue |
1575 |
Pages |
1865-1875 |
Keywords |
Animals; Brain/anatomy & histology/*physiology; Cognition/*physiology; *Evolution; Intelligence/*physiology; Primates/*physiology; *Social Behavior |
Abstract |
The hypothesis that the enlarged brain size of the primates was selected for by social, rather than purely ecological, factors has been strongly influential in studies of primate cognition and behaviour over the past two decades. However, the Machiavellian intelligence hypothesis, also known as the social brain hypothesis, tends to emphasize certain traits and behaviours, like exploitation and deception, at the expense of others, such as tolerance and behavioural coordination, and therefore presents only one view of how social life may shape cognition. This review outlines work from other relevant disciplines, including evolutionary economics, cognitive science and neurophysiology, to illustrate how these can be used to build a more general theoretical framework, incorporating notions of embodied and distributed cognition, in which to situate questions concerning the evolution of primate social cognition. |
Address ![sorted by Address field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK. louiseb@liv.ac.uk |
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English |
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ISSN |
0962-8452 |
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PMID:16191591 |
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no |
Call Number |
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Serial |
2086 |
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Author |
Dunbar, R. |
Title |
Evolution of the social brain |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2003 |
Publication |
Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
Science |
Volume |
302 |
Issue |
5648 |
Pages |
1160-1161 |
Keywords |
Animals; Animals, Wild; *Cognition; Endorphins/physiology; *Evolution; Female; Grooming; Hierarchy, Social; Language; Neocortex/anatomy & histology/physiology; Papio/physiology/*psychology; *Reproduction; *Social Behavior; Social Dominance; Social Support; Vocalization, Animal |
Abstract |
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Address ![sorted by Address field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK. rimd@liv.ac.uk |
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English |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1095-9203 |
ISBN |
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Notes |
PMID:14615522 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
548 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Conradt, L.; Roper, T.J. |
Title |
Group decision-making in animals |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2003 |
Publication |
Nature |
Abbreviated Journal |
Nature |
Volume |
421 |
Issue |
6919 |
Pages |
155-158 |
Keywords |
Animals; Behavior, Animal/*physiology; *Decision Making; Democracy; Group Processes; *Models, Biological; Population Density; Social Behavior |
Abstract |
Groups of animals often need to make communal decisions, for example about which activities to perform, when to perform them and which direction to travel in; however, little is known about how they do so. Here, we model the fitness consequences of two possible decision-making mechanisms: 'despotism' and 'democracy'. We show that under most conditions, the costs to subordinate group members, and to the group as a whole, are considerably higher for despotic than for democratic decisions. Even when the despot is the most experienced group member, it only pays other members to accept its decision when group size is small and the difference in information is large. Democratic decisions are more beneficial primarily because they tend to produce less extreme decisions, rather than because each individual has an influence on the decision per se. Our model suggests that democracy should be widespread and makes quantitative, testable predictions about group decision-making in non-humans. |
Address ![sorted by Address field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK. l.conradt@sussex.ac.uk |
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ISSN |
0028-0836 |
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PMID:12520299 |
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no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5136 |
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Author |
Janik, V.M. |
Title |
Whistle matching in wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2000 |
Publication |
Science (New York, N.Y.) |
Abbreviated Journal |
Science |
Volume |
289 |
Issue |
5483 |
Pages |
1355-1357 |
Keywords |
Animals; Animals, Wild/physiology; Dolphins/*physiology; *Imitative Behavior; *Learning; *Social Behavior; *Vocalization, Animal |
Abstract |
Dolphin communication is suspected to be complex, on the basis of their call repertoires, cognitive abilities, and ability to modify signals through vocal learning. Because of the difficulties involved in observing and recording individual cetaceans, very little is known about how they use their calls. This report shows that wild, unrestrained bottlenose dolphins use their learned whistles in matching interactions, in which an individual responds to a whistle of a conspecific by emitting the same whistle type. Vocal matching occurred over distances of up to 580 meters and is indicative of animals addressing each other individually. |
Address ![sorted by Address field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, Bute Building, Fife KY16 9TS, UK |
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English |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0036-8075 |
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Notes |
PMID:10958783 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
550 |
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Author |
Joffe, T.H.; Dunbar, R.I. |
Title |
Visual and socio-cognitive information processing in primate brain evolution |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
1997 |
Publication |
Proceedings. Biological Sciences / The Royal Society |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc Biol Sci |
Volume |
264 |
Issue |
1386 |
Pages |
1303-1307 |
Keywords |
Animals; Brain/anatomy & histology/*physiology; Cognition/physiology; *Evolution; Geniculate Bodies/anatomy & histology/physiology; Humans; Mental Processes/physiology; Neocortex/physiology; Primates/anatomy & histology/*physiology/*psychology; *Social Behavior; Visual Cortex/anatomy & histology/physiology |
Abstract |
Social group size has been shown to correlate with neocortex size in primates. Here we use comparative analyses to show that social group size is independently correlated with the size of non-V1 neocortical areas, but not with other more proximate components of the visual system or with brain systems associated with emotional cueing (e.g. the amygdala). We argue that visual brain components serve as a social information 'input device' for socio-visual stimuli such as facial expressions, bodily gestures and visual status markers, while the non-visual neocortex serves as a 'processing device' whereby these social cues are encoded, interpreted and associated with stored information. However, the second appears to have greater overall importance because the size of the V1 visual area appears to reach an asymptotic size beyond which visual acuity and pattern recognition may not improve significantly. This is especially true of the great ape clade (including humans), that is known to use more sophisticated social cognitive strategies. |
Address ![sorted by Address field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
School of Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK |
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English |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0962-8452 |
ISBN |
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Medium |
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Area |
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Expedition |
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Conference |
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Notes |
PMID:9332015 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
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Serial |
2095 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Whiten, A. |
Title |
Social complexity and social intelligence |
Type |
Conference Article |
Year |
2000 |
Publication |
Novartis Foundation Symposium |
Abbreviated Journal |
Novartis Found Symp |
Volume |
233 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
185-96; discussion 196-201 |
Keywords |
Animals; Brain/anatomy & histology/*physiology; Humans; *Intelligence/physiology; Learning; Models, Psychological; Primates; *Social Behavior; Social Problems |
Abstract |
When we talk of the 'nature of intelligence', or any other attribute, we may be referring to its essential structure, or to its place in nature, particularly the function it has evolved to serve. Here I examine both, from the perspective of the evolution of intelligence in primates. Over the last 20 years, the Social (or 'Machiavellian') Intelligence Hypothesis has gained empirical support. Its core claim is that the intelligence of primates is primarily an adaptation to the special complexities of primate social life. In addition to this hypothesis about the function of intellect, a secondary claim is that the very structure of intelligence has been moulded to be 'social' in character, an idea that presents a challenge to orthodox views of intelligence as a general-purpose capacity. I shall outline the principal components of social intelligence and the environment of social complexity it engages with. This raises the question of whether domain specificity is an appropriate characterization of social intelligence and its subcomponents, like theory of mind. As a counter-argument to such specificity I consider the hypothesis that great apes exhibit a cluster of advanced cognitive abilities that rest on a shared capacity for second-order mental representation. |
Address ![sorted by Address field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JU, UK |
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ISSN |
1528-2511 |
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Notes |
PMID:11276903 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
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Serial |
2084 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Amé, J.-M.; Halloy, J.; Rivault, C.; Detrain, C.; Deneubourg, J.L. |
Title |
Collegial decision making based on social amplification leads to optimal group formation |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. |
Volume |
103 |
Issue |
15 |
Pages |
5835-5840 |
Keywords |
Animals; Blattellidae/*physiology; Choice Behavior; Decision Making; Leadership; *Social Behavior |
Abstract |
Group-living animals are often faced with choosing between one or more alternative resource sites. A central question in such collective decision making includes determining which individuals induce the decision and when. This experimental and theoretical study of shelter selection by cockroach groups demonstrates that choices can emerge through nonlinear interaction dynamics between equal individuals without perfect knowledge or leadership. We identify a simple mechanism whereby a decision is taken on the move with limited information and signaling and without comparison of available opportunities. This mechanism leads to optimal mean benefit for group individuals. Our model points to a generic self-organized collective decision-making process independent of animal species. |
Address ![sorted by Address field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
Service d'Ecologie Sociale CP231, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue F. D. Roosevelt 50, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium |
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0027-8424 |
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PMID:16581903 |
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no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2042 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Zhou, W.-X.; Sornette, D.; Hill, R.A.; Dunbar, R.I.M. |
Title |
Discrete hierarchical organization of social group sizes |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc Biol Sci |
Volume |
272 |
Issue |
1561 |
Pages |
439-444 |
Keywords |
Anthropology, Cultural; *Group Structure; Humans; *Models, Biological; *Social Behavior; *Social Environment |
Abstract |
The 'social brain hypothesis' for the evolution of large brains in primates has led to evidence for the coevolution of neocortical size and social group sizes, suggesting that there is a cognitive constraint on group size that depends, in some way, on the volume of neural material available for processing and synthesizing information on social relationships. More recently, work on both human and non-human primates has suggested that social groups are often hierarchically structured. We combine data on human grouping patterns in a comprehensive and systematic study. Using fractal analysis, we identify, with high statistical confidence, a discrete hierarchy of group sizes with a preferred scaling ratio close to three: rather than a single or a continuous spectrum of group sizes, humans spontaneously form groups of preferred sizes organized in a geometrical series approximating 3-5, 9-15, 30-45, etc. Such discrete scale invariance could be related to that identified in signatures of herding behaviour in financial markets and might reflect a hierarchical processing of social nearness by human brains. |
Address ![sorted by Address field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China |
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0962-8452 |
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PMID:15734699 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
549 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Kendal, R.L.; Coe, R.L.; Laland, K.N. |
Title |
Age differences in neophilia, exploration, and innovation in family groups of callitrichid monkeys |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
American journal of primatology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Am. J. Primatol. |
Volume |
66 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
167-188 |
Keywords |
Age Factors; Analysis of Variance; Animals; *Animals, Zoo; Behavior, Animal/*physiology; Callitrichinae/*physiology; *Creativeness; Exploratory Behavior/*physiology; Observation; Social Behavior; Task Performance and Analysis |
Abstract |
The prevailing assumption in the primate literature is that young or juvenile primates are more innovative than adult individuals. This innovative tendency among the young is frequently thought to be a consequence, or side effect, of their increased rates of exploration and play. Conversely, Reader and Laland's [International Journal of Primatology 22:787-806, 2001] review of the primate innovation literature noted a greater reported incidence of innovation in adults than nonadults, which they interpreted as (in part) a reflection of the greater experience and competence of older individuals. Within callitrichids there is contradictory evidence for age differences in response to novel objects, foods, and foraging tasks. By presenting novel extractive foraging tasks to family groups of callitrichid monkeys in zoos, we examined, in a large sample, whether there are positive or negative relationships of age with neophilia, exploration, and innovation, and whether play or experience most facilitates innovation. The results indicate that exploration and innovation (but not neophilia) are positively correlated with age, perhaps reflecting adults' greater manipulative competence. To the extent that there was evidence for play in younger individuals, it did not appear to contribute to innovation. The implications of these findings for the fields of innovation and conservation through reintroduction are considered. |
Address ![sorted by Address field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
Sub-Department of Animal Behavior, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. RachelKendal2003@yahoo.co.uk |
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ISSN |
0275-2565 |
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PMID:15940712 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
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Serial |
2148 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Stoinski, T.S.; Wrate, J.L.; Ure, N.; Whiten, A. |
Title |
Imitative learning by captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in a simulated food-processing task |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2001 |
Publication |
Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983) |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Comp Psychol |
Volume |
115 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
272-281 |
Keywords |
Animals; Behavior, Animal/physiology; *Discrimination Learning; Feeding Behavior/*physiology; Gorilla gorilla; *Imitative Behavior; Social Behavior |
Abstract |
Although field studies have suggested the existence of cultural transmission of foraging techniques in primates, identification of transmission mechanisms has remained elusive. To test experimentally for evidence of imitation in the current study, we exposed gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) to an artificial fruit foraging task designed by A. Whiten and D. M. Custance (1996). Gorillas (n=6) watched a human model remove a series of 3 defenses around a fruit. Each of the defenses was removed using 1 of 2 alternative techniques. Subsequent video analysis of gorillas' behavior showed a significant tendency to copy the observed technique on 1 of the individual defenses and the direction of removal on another defense. This is the first statistically reliable evidence of imitation in gorillas. Sequence of defense removal was not replicated. The gorillas' responses were most similar to those of chimpanzees. |
Address ![sorted by Address field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
TECHlab, Zoo Atlanta, Georgia 30315, USA. stoinskit@mindspring.com |
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Edition |
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0735-7036 |
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PMID:11594496 |
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no |
Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
738 |
Permanent link to this record |