Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Counting in a Computerized Testing Paradigm

Using computer-mediated joystick manipulation, the ability of a common chimpanzee(Pan troglodytes) to select arrays of items equal to a given target number was examined. A random dot condition was included in which all sequence cues were eliminated as a means to reach the target numbers 1 to 4. The participant, Austin, had only the quantity of items already selected as a record of how high the count had progressed. Performance on the random dot trials was found to be significantly above chance and improvement over time was also statistically significant. Results of this experiment provide evidence that Austin behaved with a knowledge that the quantity of items selected was the objective of the task rather than adhering rigidly to any specific pattern of selection. The results indicate that Austin had the ability to discriminate the number of items needed to reach the target number and then select items individually to reach that target quantity

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) counting in a computerized testing paradigm

Using computer-mediated joystick manipulation, the ability of a common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) to select arrays of items equal to a given target number was examined. A random dot condition was included in which all sequence cues were eliminated as a means to reach the target numbers 1 to 4. The participant, Austin, had only the quantity of items already selected as a record of how high the count had progressed. Performance on the random dot trials was found to be significantly above chance and improvement over time was also statistically significant. Results of this experiment provide evidence that Austin behaved with a knowledge that the quantity of items selected was the objective of the task rather than adhering rigidly to any specific pattern of selection. The results indicate that Austin had the ability to discriminate the number of items needed to reach the target number and then select items individually t

¿Se da lenguaje en los simios?

The authors review the evidence of symbolic representation capacity in apes and state that every language program starts from the same assumption: signs, lexigrams, and plastic tokens are indeed real vocabulary elements whenever apes are able to perform the right behaviour label in the presence of the respective fact or object. They consider as crucial the question of equivalence between labeling and symbolic representation capacity and state that no theoretical framework has been created within the animal psychology that may allow to distinguish conditioned discriminative responses from symbolic/representational ones. On the basis of their recent research work, they affirm that chimpanzees may manage to learn how to use symbols in a representative way but it is not possible to deduce from just a label/object association the existence of a symbolization or representation function. They also approach protolinguistic communication in children comparing it with that of chimpanzees and develop the true concept of symbolization. They close the article expressing that ape language studies have failed in getting true symbolization partly because they have centered themselves almost exclusively on the production aspects, neglecting the receptive competence.Los autores revisan la evidencia en favor de la capacidad de representación simbólica en simios, afirmando que todos los programas de lenguaje parten de la misma suposición: considerar signos, lexigramas y fichas de plástico como verdaderos elementos de vocabulario siempre que los simios sean capaces de ejecutar la etiqueta conductual correcta en presencia del correspondiente hecho u objeto. Consideran crucial el problema de la equivalencia entre capacidad de etiquetar y de representar simbólicamente y manifiestan que no se ha desarrollado ningún marco teórico dentro de la psicología animal que permita distinguir respuestas discriminativas condicionadas de respuestas simbólico-representacionales. Afirman que según sus investigaciones recientes la habilidad para utilizar símbolos de forma representativa puede ser alcanzada por chimpancés, pero no es posible deducir de la simple asociación entre etiqueta y objeto la existencia de esta función de representación o simbolización. También abordan la comunicación protolingüística de niños comparándola con la de chimpancés y desarrollan el concepto de verdadera simbolización, concluyendo que los estudios sobre el lenguaje de los simios han fracasado a la hora de obtener la verdadera simbolización en parte debido a que se han centrado casi exclusivamente en el aspecto de la producción, descuidando la competencia receptiva

Hacia el control de nuevas realidades

Sue Savage-Rumbaugh y William Mintz presentan su visión sobre el lenguaje y la comunicación. Ambos autores consideran que la lingüística y la ciencia cognitiva moderna han olvidado que los seres humanos, en tanto que primates, somos una especie extremadamente comunicativa y social, y que el lenguaje no es un sistema meramente formal, sino una forma de socializar, como tantas otras

Verbal behavior at a procedural level in the chimpanzee

Ape language research has typically employed cognitive descriptions of ape competencies. Recently, Epstein, Lanza, and Skinner (1980) attempted to simulate some of the ape findings with pigeons. They also used cognitive terms to describe their results, but with “tongue-in-cheek.” In the hope of bringing about a better understanding of the ape research, this paper describes the main aspects of one ape language project, using a behavior-analytic framework. It then briefly compares and contrasts, from that perspective, the training programs used with pigeons and with apes. It is concluded that the behavior-analytic framework, and the procedures devised to produce language skills in apes, provide strong support for several of the major positions set forth in Skinner's (1957) Verbal Behavior

Precursors of morality in the use of the symbols "good" and "bad" in two bonobos (Pan paniscus) and a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

Morality is a concept that is based on value judgments of &quot;right&quot; or &quot;wrong&quot; and &quot;good&quot; and &quot;bad&quot;. Three language-competent apes (two bonobos and a chimpanzee) are shown to use the symbols &quot;good&quot; and &quot;bad&quot; in appropriate contexts and to co-construct these values with the humans in their environment, indicating that the specific expression of value judgments is cultural. Their developmental use of these symbols parallels studies in children which suggest that conceptual simplicity and internal development may affect the development of moral precursors. These findings support recent research that has found moral precursors in several species of nonhuman primates. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</p