Intentionality, pointing, and early symbolic cognition

Human Studies, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 47(3), P. 439 - 458

Published: March 25, 2024

Abstract Concepts such as “symbolism” and “symbolic cognition” often remain unspecified in discussions the symbolic capacities of earlier hominins. In this paper, I use conceptual tools from phenomenology to reflect on origins early cognition. particular, discuss possible pointing gestures around time earliest known stone tool industries. argue that unlike more basic social acts expression, gaze following, attention-getters, which are used by extant non-human great apes, communicative involves key elements characteristic it “third order intentionality” well “shared practice horizons”: shared frameworks understanding required for interpretation whose meaning is not codified indexically or iconically signaling behavior. final part, briefly review some indications Lomekwian Oldowan industries, a way sustain cooperation possibly learning instruction. It suggested complex than standardly acknowledged, may have been an important act Early Stone Age hominins transitioning fully speech capacities.

Language: Английский

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Unconscious and Conscious Gaze-Triggered Attentional Orienting: Distinguishing Innate and Acquired Components of Social Attention in Children and Adults with Autistic Traits and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Typically developing (TD) individuals can readily orient attention according to others’ eye-gaze direction, an ability known as social attention, which involves both innate and acquired components. To distinguish between these two components, we used a critical flicker fusion technique render gaze cues invisible participants, thereby largely reducing influences from consciously strategies. Results revealed that visible could trigger attentional orienting in TD adults (aged 20 30 years) children 6 12 years). Intriguingly, only the involuntarily respond was negatively correlated with autistic traits among all participants. This substantially impaired autism spectrum disorder (ASD) high traits. No such association or reduction observed cues. These findings provide compelling evidence for functional demarcation of conscious unconscious gaze-triggered emerges early life develops into adulthood, shedding new light on differentiation aspects attention. Moreover, they contribute comprehensive understanding endophenotypes ASD.

Language: Английский

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Palaeognath birds innovate to solve a novel foraging problem

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 20, 2025

The ability to innovate implies flexible cognition, and is used as a broad metric of intelligence. Innovation in birds has been intensively studied the larger more taxonomically diverse Neognathae clade (particularly crows parrots) overlooked smaller ancestral Palaeognathae clade. current study provides first known evidence technical innovation palaeognath birds. We tested nine individuals three species move hole towards chamber access food reward. This problem was different traditional puzzle-boxes where an obstacle moved away from chamber. Three emus one rhea produced wheel-turning innovation, moving most efficient direction (closer nearest item) 90% cases. One dismantled task twice by removing central bolt, which we suggest second type it did not persist once they innovated wheel turning solution. Ostriches innovate. classify palaeognaths low level/simplistic, relying on general exploration asocial trial error learning. Our research suggests that may have evolved far earlier than previously thought, are compelling taxonomic group for further cognitive research.

Language: Английский

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Infant Gaze Following Is Stable Across Markedly Different Cultures and Resilient to Family Adversities Associated With War and Climate Change

Psychological Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 21, 2025

Gaze following in infancy allows triadic social interactions and a comprehension of other individuals their surroundings. Despite its importance for early development, ontology is debated, with theories suggesting that gaze either universal core capacity or an experience-dependent learned behavior. A critical test these among 809 nine-month-olds from Africa (Uganda Zimbabwe), Europe (Sweden), Asia (Bhutan) demonstrated infants follow to similar degree regardless environmental factors such as culture, maternal well-being (postpartum depression, well-being), traumatic family events (related war and/or climate change). These findings suggest may be universal, experience-expectant process resilient adversity across wide range human experiences—a foundation development.

Language: Английский

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The use of gaze to study cognition: limitations, solutions, and applications to animal welfare

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14

Published: May 2, 2023

The study of gaze responses, typically using looking time paradigms, has become a popular approach to improving our understanding cognitive processes in non-verbal individuals. Our interpretation data derived from these however, is constrained by how we conceptually and methodologically problems. In this perspective paper, outline the application studies comparative behavioral research highlight current limitations commonly used paradigms. Further, propose potential solutions, including improvements experimental approaches, as well broad-scale benefits technology collaboration. Finally, studying responses an animal welfare perspective. We advocate implementation proposals across field behavior cognition aid validity, further advance knowledge on variety outcomes.

Language: Английский

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How smart was T. rex? Testing claims of exceptional cognition in dinosaurs and the application of neuron count estimates in palaeontological research

The Anatomical Record, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 307(12), P. 3685 - 3716

Published: April 26, 2024

Recent years have seen increasing scientific interest in whether neuron counts can act as correlates of diverse biological phenomena. Lately, Herculano-Houzel (2023) argued that fossil endocasts and comparative neurological data from extant sauropsids allow to reconstruct telencephalic Mesozoic dinosaurs pterosaurs, which might proxies for behaviors life history traits these animals. According this analysis, large theropods such Tyrannosaurus rex were long-lived, exceptionally intelligent animals equipped with "macaque- or baboon-like cognition", whereas sauropods most ornithischian would displayed significantly smaller brains an ectothermic physiology. Besides challenging established views on dinosaur biology, claims raise questions count estimates could benefit research general. Here, we address findings by revisiting Herculano-Houzel's work, identifying several crucial shortcomings regarding analysis interpretation. We present revised encephalization dinosaurs, derive phylogenetically informed modeling amended dataset endocranial measurements. For large-bodied particular, recover lower than previously proposed. Furthermore, review the suitability variables numbers relative brain size predict cognitive complexity, metabolic rate coming conclusion they are flawed Instead relying when reconstructing argue integrative studies needed approach complex subject.

Language: Английский

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Husserl’s Layered Theory of Empathy and Theory of Mind

Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 18

Published: Sept. 18, 2024

Language: Английский

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How smart wasT. rex? Testing claims of exceptional cognition in dinosaurs and the application of neuron count estimates in palaeontological research

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 12, 2024

Recent years have seen increasing scientific interest in whether neuron counts can act as correlates of diverse biological phenomena. Lately, Herculano-Houzel (2023) argued that fossil endocasts and comparative neurological data from extant sauropsids allow to reconstruct telencephalic Mesozoic dinosaurs pterosaurs, which might proxies for behaviors life history traits these animals. According this analysis, large theropods such Tyrannosaurus rex were long-lived, exceptionally intelligent animals equipped with 'macaque- or baboon-like cognition' whereas sauropods well most ornithischian would displayed significantly smaller brains an ectothermic physiology. Besides challenging established views on dinosaur biology, claims raise questions count estimates could benefit research general. Here, we address findings by revisiting Herculano-Houzel's work, identifying several crucial shortcomings regarding analysis interpretation. We present revised encephalization dinosaurs, derive phylogenetically informed modeling amended dataset endocranial measurements. For large-bodied particular, recover lower than previously proposed. Furthermore, review the suitability variables numbers relative brain size predict cognitive complexity, metabolic rate coming conclusion they are flawed Instead relying when reconstructing argue integrative studies needed approach complex subject.

Language: Английский

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The selfish preen: absence of allopreening in Palaeognathae and its socio-cognitive implications

Animal Cognition, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(5), P. 1467 - 1476

Published: May 31, 2023

Abstract Preening behaviours are widespread in extant birds. While most birds appear to autopreen (self-directed preening), allopreening (preening directed at conspecifics) seems have emerged only certain species, but across many families. Allopreening has been hypothesised reinforce mutual relationships and cooperation between individuals, underpin various socio-cognitive abilities. Palaeognathae is a bird group exhibiting neurocognitively plesiomorphic traits compared other They share features with non-avian paravian dinosaurs thus important for the study of cognitive evolution Despite this, correlation complicated social behaviours, not systematically studied Palaeognathae. Therefore, we examined preening four species palaeognaths: common ostriches ( Struthio camelus ), greater rheas Rhea americana emus Dromaius novaehollandiae elegant crested tinamous Eudromia elegans ). We findings ravens Corvus corax neognath known its complex cognition. found autopreening, no allopreening, palaeognath while both autopreening was ravens. The absence suggests an emergence this behaviour within Neognathae. contextualise our results relation underpinnings implications understanding abilities early

Language: Английский

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Social face processing in chronic severe traumatic brain injury: Altered decoding of emotions and mental states but preserved gaze cueing of attention

Neuropsychologia, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 203, P. 108975 - 108975

Published: Aug. 22, 2024

The processing of social information transmitted by facial stimuli is altered in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study investigated whether these alterations also affect the mechanisms underlying orienting visual attention response to eye-gaze signals. TBI patients and a control group healthy matched on relevant criteria completed spatial cueing task. In this task, lateral target was presented along task-irrelevant face, gaze averted left or right. Arrows pointing towards right were used as non-social stimuli. Social cognition abilities further through tests based decoding emotional expressions mental states conveyed emotions worse than group. However, both groups demonstrated reliable comparable arrow Despite impairments certain aspects face among patients, appears be preserved neuropsychological population.

Language: Английский

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