What's happened
New research shows apes can engage in pretend play, indicating complex cognition. Brain scans of young infants reveal early category understanding, suggesting advanced cognitive development from two months old. These findings challenge assumptions about animal and human cognition, with implications for understanding evolution and development.
What's behind the headline?
The discovery that apes can engage in pretend play fundamentally shifts our understanding of animal cognition, suggesting that the roots of imagination extend deeper into our evolutionary past than previously believed. This challenges the long-held view that such complex mental processes are exclusive to humans. The research also underscores the importance of early cognitive development, as shown by infant brain imaging, which reveals that categorization abilities emerge much earlier than traditionally assumed. These findings imply that both animals and infants possess a richer mental life, which could influence future research on cognition, consciousness, and the evolution of intelligence. The use of non-invasive brain scans in infants, described as 'IMAX for babies,' exemplifies innovative methods that will likely become standard in developmental neuroscience, enabling more precise insights into early cognition. Overall, these studies suggest that the capacity for imagination and categorization is more widespread and fundamental than previously thought, with potential implications for understanding the origins of human intelligence and the development of cognitive skills across species.
What the papers say
The New York Times reports that the ape study, published in Science, indicates that apes can consider multiple views of the world and distinguish real from imaginary, challenging the notion that imagination is unique to humans. The Independent highlights the infant brain imaging research from Trinity College Dublin, emphasizing that two-month-olds already demonstrate category recognition, which was previously thought to develop later. Both sources underscore the significance of these findings in broadening our understanding of cognitive development and animal intelligence, with The Independent noting the technical challenge of scanning awake infants comfortably. The articles collectively suggest that early cognitive abilities are more advanced than traditionally believed, with potential long-term impacts on neuroscience and evolutionary psychology.
How we got here
Recent studies have expanded understanding of cognitive abilities in both humans and animals. The ape study, published in Science, demonstrates that apes can consider imaginary scenarios, a trait previously thought unique to humans. Simultaneously, infant brain imaging research, published in Nature Neuroscience, shows that even two-month-olds can categorize objects, indicating early cognitive sophistication. These studies build on prior work suggesting early development of perception and imagination, highlighting the importance of advanced neuroimaging techniques in developmental science.
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Common question
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What Does Recent Research Reveal About Ape Cognition and Early Human Development?
Recent scientific studies are reshaping our understanding of intelligence in both animals and humans. New findings show that apes can engage in pretend play, a trait once thought unique to humans, and that infants as young as two months old already demonstrate complex cognitive abilities. These discoveries raise important questions about how cognition develops and what it means for evolution. Below, we explore what recent research tells us about the minds of apes and babies, and why these insights matter for science and our understanding of ourselves.
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The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, branded by the board as Trinity College, the University of Dublin, and officially incorporated as Trinity College Dublin (TCD) (Irish: Coláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Clia