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While we are the only species to scrutinise our reflexion in a mirror every day , we are not the only one to recognize ourselves in reflective surfaces .
scientist have tested for mirror credit in a wide regalia of species , starting with enquiry on chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes)published in 1970 . Animals graze from ants to manta beam to African gray parrot ( Psittacus erithacus ) have been scrutinize for signs of self - awareness when presented with a mirror . A little smattering realize that they are looking at themselves . Many do n’t . And a issue have displayed inconclusive demeanour .
A monkey peers into a mirror at a temple complex in Jaipur, India.
These assorted result have led researchers to contend the usefulness of the test and how it helps scientists empathise animal cognition .
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" Many beast do n’t pass,“Frans de Waal , a primatologist at Emory University , told Live Science . De Waal has carry ego - awareness tests on capuchin monkeys — which break . " They need to self - visit a visual mark in front of a mirror without any training or rewards . It necessitate to be self-generated . Most of the claims in the literature do n’t check this verbal description . "
So which animals have passed the test ?
In the 1970 chimp experimentation , four chimpanzee were anaesthetise and marked with red dye on their face . When they arouse , they essay the area that had been cross off in the mirror , indicate an understanding that they were look at themselves .
The soft touch psychometric test is now consider the most conclusive proof of mirror ego - cognizance .
Other great apes have also drop dead the trial run . orangutang recognized themselves — and even distinguish marks on their bodies — in a1973 discipline .
Bonobos were observedinspecting areas of their bodies they would not otherwise be able to see using a mirror in a 1994 subject . The results for gorillas have beenmore inconclusive .
Monkeystypically consider their reflections as another creature — though a series ofcontroversial studiesshowed that some species can identify themselves follow extensive grooming regimens .
This has been truthful of other animals as well , vomit doubt on the implications of those study . " Does that training process neutralize the outcomes of the mirror test for the species that require it ? " wondersEllen O’Donoghue , a cognitive psychologist at Cardiff University in the U.K. , who has contemplate learning in pigeons . critic of test that use training utilisation paint a picture that such knowing behavior is not reliable evidence of self - awareness .
Until recently , the only other mundane mammal that has convincingly passed the test was an Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus)at the Bronx Zoo . However , a January , 2024 study in the journalNeuronsuggested that mice , too , seem to recognise alteration to their own body in a mirror .
Studies on dolphins suggest that they too can tell apart their own reflexion . A1995 studyusing video recording rather than mirror and a2001 studythat used mirror both indicated that mahimahi use their images to analyze marker made on their bodies .
In 2008 , researchers studying Eurasian magpies ( Pica pica)found the first evidencethat non - mammals were capable of mirror ego - recognition . pigeon have alsopassed the test — but only after a stringent period of conditioning . And in 2022 , wild Adélie penguin ( Pygoscelis adeliae)showed signs of mirror self - awarenessas well , though they did not oppose to colored bib placed around their necks in lieu of marking their body .
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mental testing on lower - order animals have try out particularly controversial . A 2015 studysuggested that ants might own some self - awareness because they attempted to remove blue blusher from their heads when looking at their mirror image . Two studies have suggested that Pisces may realise themselves . One , from 2016,found that manta raysseemed to canvas themselves and ball up bubbles when shown a mirror . No mark test was deal though . And a2019 experimenton clean wrasses ( Labroides dimidiatus ) found that they set about to remove dyestuff marks made on their undersides after spotting them in a mirror . And in the 2024 computer mouse subject , researchers found mice removed marks from their body ; those that could see the smirch take them , while mouse that could n’t see the smudges because they immix in with their fur color did not . The research worker also operate a step further , scanning the brains of the mice as they removed the spot . They found a subset of brain cells , called adaxial hippocampal CA1 neurons , lit up during the mirror test . Whether a standardized circuit plays a role in human ego - recognition remains to be watch .
The fact that these supposedly more - naive organisms go the mirror tryout , while some of the most intelligent non - human animals , admit African gray parrot , have failed it , has called its utility into question . It is undecipherable whether these investigations demonstrate a true sentiency of the ego in the human horse sense or whether they only show a sophisticated bodily awareness .
" The mirror test can index one aspect of self awareness , " O’Donoghue told Live Science . " There ’s a tendency to look at self awareness as all or nothing . That ’s likely not truthful . It ’s belike more of a gradation . "
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