A modular mind? A test using individual data from seven primate species. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • It has long been debated whether the mind consists of specialized and independently evolving modules, or whether and to what extent a general factor accounts for the variance in performance across different cognitive domains. In this study, we used a hierarchical Bayesian model to re-analyse individual level data collected on seven primate species (chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, gorillas, spider monkeys, brown capuchin monkeys and long-tailed macaques) across 17 tasks within four domains (inhibition, memory, transposition and support). Our modelling approach evidenced the existence of both a domain-specific factor and a species factor, each accounting for the same amount (17%) of the observed variance. In contrast, inter-individual differences played a minimal role. These results support the hypothesis that the mind of primates is (at least partially) modular, with domain-specific cognitive skills undergoing different evolutionary pressures in different species in response to specific ecological and social demands.

published proceedings

  • PLoS One

altmetric score

  • 13

author list (cited authors)

  • Amici, F., Barney, B., Johnson, V. E., Call, J., & Aureli, F.

citation count

  • 43

complete list of authors

  • Amici, Federica||Barney, Bradley||Johnson, Valen E||Call, Josep||Aureli, Filippo

editor list (cited editors)

  • Engelhardt, A.

publication date

  • January 2012