Do rhesus monkeys recognize themselves in mirrors

Bibliographic Data

ID19386554
AuthorsJames R Anderson (0000-0003-2441-0728, University of Stirling, corresponding author), Gordon G Gallup (University at Albany, State University of New York)
Year2011
Volume73
Issue7
Pages603-606
Publication date2011-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Primatology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0275-2565 • E-ISSN: 1098-2345
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajp.20950
PMID21442633
OpenAlexW2088568882
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited21

Self‐recognition continues to attract attention because of the evidence of a striking difference between the great apes and humans, on the one hand, and all other primates; the former are capable of self‐recognition, whereas no compelling evidence exists for prosimians, monkeys, or lesser apes. This is in spite of numerous attempts to facilitate mirror self‐recognition in other primates. Although all previous attempts to find self‐recognition in rhesus macaques have failed, a recent article [Rajala et al., PLoS One 9:e12865, 2010 ] claimed the opposite—that adult male rhesus monkeys did recognize their own image in a mirror. We critically examine this claim, and conclude that the article fails to provide acceptable evidence for self‐recognition in rhesus monkeys. Am. J. Primatol. 73:603–606, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Cognitive psychology · Primate · Child and Animal Learning Development · Face Recognition and Perception · Neuroscience · Primate Behavior and Ecology · Psychology · Social Psychology