Primate foundation of cognitive development

2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20002001
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Specially Promoted Research
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Humanities and Social Sciences
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: MATSUZAWA Tetsuro 京都大学, 霊長類研究所, 教授 (60111986)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TOMONAGA Masaki 京都大学, 霊長類研究所, 准教授 (70237139) ; TANAKA Masayuki 京都大学, 野生動物研究センター, 准教授 (80280775) ; HAYASHI Misato 京都大学, 霊長類研究所, 助教 (50444493) ; MORIMURA Naruki 京都大学, 野生動物研究センター, 助教 (90396226) ; OHASHI Gaku (財)日本モンキーセンター, リサーチフェロー (40533592)
• Project Period (FY): 2008-06-04 – 2013-03-31
• Keywords: 認知発達 / 霊長類 / チンパンジー / 言語 / 記憶 / 道具 / 親子関係

Research Abstract

Cognitive development was compared between humans and nonhuman primates. The main target was the chimpanzees that shared the latest common ancestor with humans. The study revealed the new fact that young chimpanzees have the better working memory than adult humans. Chimpanzees are living in the world of here and now. In contrast, humans often think about the past before the birth and the future after the death. We can be sympathetic to the people who are suffering in a remote place. In sum, the power of imagination is uniquely human.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Responses toward a trapped animal by wild bonobos at Wamba (2012)
  • Author(s): Hayashi, M., Ohashi, G. ,Ryu Heung Jin
  • Journal Title: Animal Cognition Volume: 15 Pages: 731-735
  • DOI: DOI:10.1007/s10071-012-0478-x
• [Journal Article] Chimpanzees' flexible targeted helping based on an understanding of conspecifics' goals. (2012)
  • Author(s): Yamamoto, S., Humle, T., Tanaka, M
  • Journal Title: PNAS Volume: 109,B, 276 Pages: 3588-3592.1949-1955
• [Journal Article] The first chimpanzee sanctuary in Japan: an attempt to care for the "surplus"of biomedical research (2011)
  • Author(s): Morimura, N., Idani, G., Matsuzawa, T
  • Journal Title: American journal of Primatology Volume: 73 Pages: 226-232
  • DOI: DOI:10.1002/ajp.20887
• [Journal Article] The perception of self-agency in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) (2011)
  • Author(s): Kaneko, T., & Tomonaga, M
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B Volume: 278 Pages: 3694-3702
  • DOI: doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.0611
• [Journal Article] Visuoauditory mappings between high luminance and high pitch are shared by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and humans. (2011)
  • Author(s): Ludwig, V., Adachi, I., Matsuzawa, T.
  • Journal Title: PNAS Volume: 108 Pages: 20661-20665
• [Journal Article] Deactivation of snares by wildchimpanzees (2011)
  • Author(s): Ohashi, G., Matsuzawa, T
  • Journal Title: Primates Volume: 52 Pages: 1-5
• [Journal Article] Symbolic representation of number in chimpanzees (2009)
  • Author(s): Matsuzawa,T.
  • Journal Title: Current Opinion in Neurobiology Volume: 19 Pages: 92-98
• [Journal Article] Human gestures trigger different attentional shifts in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and humans (Homo sapiens). (2009)
  • Author(s): Tomonaga, M., Imura, T.
  • Journal Title: Animal Cognition Volume: 12 Pages: S11-S18
• [Journal Article] Stacking of irregularly shaped blocks in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and young humans (Homo sapiens). (2009)
  • Author(s): Hayashi, M., Takeshita, H
  • Journal Title: Animal Cognition Volume: 12 Pages: S49-S58
  • DOI: doi:10.1007/s10071-009-0273-5
• [Journal Article] How chimpanzees look at pictures: Acomparative eye-tracking study (2009)
  • Author(s): Kano, F., & Tomonaga, M
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the Royal Society SeriesB Volume: 276 Pages: 1949-1955
• [Book] The Chimpanzees of Bossou and Nimba (2011)
  • Author(s): Matsuzawa, T., Humle, T., Sugiyama, Y. eds.
  • Publisher: Springer
• [Book] The Mind of the Chimpanzees (2011)
  • Author(s): Ross, S., Lonsdolf, E., Matsuzawa, T. eds
  • Publisher: Chicago University Press
• [Book] 想像するちから:チンパンジーが教えてくれた人間の心
  • Author(s): 松沢哲郎
  • Publisher: 岩波書店
• [Book] 人間とは何か:チンパンジー研究から見えてきたこと
  • Author(s): 松沢哲郎
  • Publisher: 岩波書店
• [Remarks] (1) Malaysia Science University, Department of Biology, Feb 17, Penang, Malaysia
• [Remarks] (2) Harvard University Dept of Psychology and Dept of Anthropology, April 27, Boston, USA
• [Remarks] (3) University of Pennsylvania, Department of Psychology, May 2, Philadelphia, PA, USA
• [Remarks] (4) UCL, Institute of Child Health, May 17,London, UK
• [Remarks] (5) Cambridge University, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, May 18, Cambridge, UK
• [Remarks] (6) Nairobi Workshop on Lithic Techonology, Nairobi National Museum, Aug 6, Nairobi, Kenya
• [Remarks] (7) Wellcome Trust School on Biology of Social Cognition, Cambridge, UK
• [Remarks] (8) Ecole Normale Superieure, November 8, Paris, Franc
• [Remarks] 『科学』、岩波書店。毎月 1回の連載。
• [Remarks] 『発達』、ミネルヴァ書房。季刊の連載。
• [Remarks] チンパンジー・アイのホームページ
  • URL: http://www.pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ai/
• [Remarks] 緑の回廊」のホームページ
  • URL: http://www.greenpassage.org/
• [Remarks] (1)松沢哲郎『想像するちから』岩波書店、第11回科学ジャーナリスト賞、2011年5月。同著、第65回毎日出版文化賞、2011年11月。