The origin of social cognitive ability in vertebrates: From facial recognition, mirror self-recognition and tactical deception

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26540070
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cognitive science
• Research Institution: Osaka City University
• Principal Investigator: KOHDA Masanori 大阪市立大学, 大学院理学研究科, 教授 (70192052)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 自己認知 / 他者認知 / 顔認知 / 顔神経 / 倒立効果 / 自己鏡像認知 / 意図的騙し / 社会的認知能力

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We studied social cognitive abilities of fishes, such as mirror self recognition , facial recognition and tactical deception. Among these studies, studies on face recognition in fish were greatly advanced. We revealed face recognition in two other fish species, now face recognition are confirmed in three fishes in the world. In primates and social mammals that communicate by face recognition, animals observed the face of opponents. We found the fish with facial recognition watch the face of other conspecifics initially in the first encounter and subsequently so. These will be innate behavior, and behavioral pattern facial recognition is similar to that of mammals. Notably, 'Inversion effect' on familiar face is confirmed in a ciclid fish. From these findings we propose the hypothesis that fish that perform face recognition will have 'face neuron' like primates and sheep that have the face neuron. By this neuron, fish will be axle to detect face of predatory fish and take advantage.

Free Research Field

比較認知科学