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Long‐term retention of self‐recognition by chimpanzees
Author(s) -
Calhoun Suzanne,
Thompson Robert L.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/ajp.1350150409
Subject(s) - term (time) , psychology , audiology , developmental psychology , test (biology) , communication , biology , medicine , ecology , physics , quantum mechanics
Abstract Two young chimpanzees showed retention of self‐recognition after 1 year without access to mirrors. A year earlier the animals were positive on the Gallup dye test. One year later they were once again anesthetized, marked on the brow and ears, and following recovery, exposed individually to a large mirror. Both demonstrated mirror‐orientated mark‐directed responses. Time‐sample observations of behavior toward the mirror further support self‐recognition. The chimpanzee's self‐awareness, as inferred from its self‐recognition, appears to be a stable characteristic of the animal.