Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2022
The seminal work on mirror self-recognition, theory of mind, and ape-language abilities beginning in the 1960s has stimulated a recent, significant body research on the cognitive abilities of animals. Because of their greater genetic, morphological, and neuroanatomical similarities with humans, research on cognition in nonhuman primates has held a particular fascination from scientific and public perspective. In this chapter, we present a summary of recent studies by our research group on the general intelligence of chimpanzees. We further present data on (1) the contribution of genetic and non-genetic factors in explaining individual variation in cognitive performance in the chimpanzees and (2) phenotypic, genetic, and environmental associations found between chimpanzee cognition and neuroanatomical organization. We end by discussing limitations in the study of cognition and emphasize the need to include individual as well as grouped data in the reporting of results. We also offer some suggestions for future research that would provide new insight into the evolution of human unique cognitive abilities.
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