scholarly journals From sharing food to sharing information

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 136-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Burkart ◽  
Eloisa Guerreiro Martins ◽  
Fabia Miss ◽  
Yvonne Zürcher
Keyword(s):  
Cooperative Breeding ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Language Evolution ◽  
Great Apes ◽  
Great Ape ◽  
Cognitive Component ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Cooperative Enterprise ◽  
Share Information

Abstract Language is a cognitively demanding human trait, but it is also a fundamentally cooperative enterprise that rests on the motivation to share information. Great apes possess many of the cognitive prerequisites for language, but largely lack the motivation to share information. Callitrichids (including marmosets and tamarins) are highly vocal monkeys that are more distantly related to humans than great apes are, but like humans, they are cooperative breeders and all group members help raising offspring. Among primates, this rearing system is correlated with proactive prosociality, which can be expressed as motivation to share information. We therefore propose that the unique coincidence of these two components in humans set the stage for language evolution: The cognitive component inherited from our great ape-like ancestors, and the motivational one added convergently as a result of cooperative breeding. We evaluate this scenario based on a review of callitrichd vocal communication and show that furthermore, they possess many of the mechanistic elements emphasized by the mirror system hypothesis of language evolution. We end by highlighting how more systematic phylogenetic comparisons will enable us to further promote our understanding of the role of cooperative breeding during language evolution.

Pantomime and imitation in great apes

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 200-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Russon
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Language Evolution ◽  
Great Apes ◽  
Great Ape ◽  
Evolution Of Language ◽  
Distinct Process ◽  
Action Imitation ◽  
Primitive Forms ◽  
Communicative Abilities

Abstract This paper assesses great apes’ abilities for pantomime and action imitation, two communicative abilities proposed as key contributors to language evolution. Modern great apes, the only surviving nonhuman hominids, are important living models of the communicative platform upon which language evolved. This assessment is based on 62 great ape pantomimes identified via data mining plus published reports of great ape action imitation. Most pantomimes were simple, imperative, and scaffolded by partners’ relationship and scripts; some resemble declaratives, some were sequences of several inter-related elements. Imitation research consistently shows great apes perform action imitation at low fidelity, but also that action imitation may not represent a distinct process or function. Discussion focuses on how findings may advance reconstruction of the evolution of language, including what great apes may contribute to understanding ‘primitive’ forms of pantomime and imitation and how to improve their study.

scholarly journals Responses of primate frontal cortex neurons during natural vocal communication

2015 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 1158-1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cory T. Miller ◽  
A. Wren Thomas ◽  
Samuel U. Nummela ◽  
Lisa A. de la Mothe
Keyword(s):  
Frontal Cortex ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Language Evolution ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Neuron Activity ◽  
Call Production ◽  
Multiple Regions ◽  
Sensory Responses

The role of primate frontal cortex in vocal communication and its significance in language evolution have a controversial history. While evidence indicates that vocalization processing occurs in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex neurons, vocal-motor activity has been conjectured to be primarily subcortical and suggestive of a distinctly different neural architecture from humans. Direct evidence of neural activity during natural vocal communication is limited, as previous studies were performed in chair-restrained animals. Here we recorded the activity of single neurons across multiple regions of prefrontal and premotor cortex while freely moving marmosets engaged in a natural vocal behavior known as antiphonal calling. Our aim was to test whether neurons in marmoset frontal cortex exhibited responses during vocal-signal processing and/or vocal-motor production in the context of active, natural communication. We observed motor-related changes in single neuron activity during vocal production, but relatively weak sensory responses for vocalization processing during this natural behavior. Vocal-motor responses occurred both prior to and during call production and were typically coupled to the timing of each vocalization pulse. Despite the relatively weak sensory responses a population classifier was able to distinguish between neural activity that occurred during presentations of vocalization stimuli that elicited an antiphonal response and those that did not. These findings are suggestive of the role that nonhuman primate frontal cortex neurons play in natural communication and provide an important foundation for more explicit tests of the functional contributions of these neocortical areas during vocal behaviors.

scholarly journals Young children spontaneously invent wild great apes’ tool-use behaviours

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1825) ◽  
pp. 20152402 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Reindl ◽  
S. R. Beck ◽  
I. A. Apperly ◽  
C. Tennie
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Tool Use ◽  
Great Apes ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Great Ape ◽  
Great Similarity ◽  
Physical Cognition ◽  
Animal Kingdom ◽  
Over Time

The variety and complexity of human-made tools are unique in the animal kingdom. Research investigating why human tool use is special has focused on the role of social learning: while non-human great apes acquire tool-use behaviours mostly by individual (re-)inventions, modern humans use imitation and teaching to accumulate innovations over time. However, little is known about tool-use behaviours that humans can invent individually, i.e. without cultural knowledge. We presented 2- to 3.5-year-old children with 12 problem-solving tasks based on tool-use behaviours shown by great apes. Spontaneous tool use was observed in 11 tasks. Additionally, tasks which occurred more frequently in wild great apes were also solved more frequently by human children. Our results demonstrate great similarity in the spontaneous tool-use abilities of human children and great apes, indicating that the physical cognition underlying tool use shows large overlaps across the great ape species. This suggests that humans are neither born with special physical cognition skills, nor that these skills have degraded due to our species’ long reliance of social learning in the tool-use domain.

scholarly journals Experimental vacancies do not induce settlement despite habitat saturation in a cooperative breeder

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 20190757
Author(s):  
Lyanne Brouwer ◽  
Andrew Cockburn
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Cooperative Breeding ◽  
Ecological Constraints ◽  
Multiple Group ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Habitat Saturation ◽  
Crucial Test

The paradox of cooperative breeding, whereby individuals assist others instead of reproducing independently, is generally explained through ecological constraints, but experimental evidence is scant. Here we performed the crucial test of the role of habitat saturation through the experimental creation of vacancies and found that, despite abundant presence of potential mates, subordinates are reluctant to disperse into suitable vacant habitat where conspecifics are absent. We argue that sudden disappearance of multiple group members might indicate a heightened risk of predation. Thereby the results of this study are consistent with the ‘perceptual trap’ hypothesis: the avoidance of habitats because cues do not accurately reflect their quality. Interestingly, this hypothesis can also explain previous findings, which were widely interpreted as evidence for ecological constraints as a driver of cooperative breeding. Our results can have considerable implications for conservation as they mean that opportunities for colonization might go unexploited.

The power of norms to sway fused group members

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winnifred R. Louis ◽  
Craig McGarty ◽  
Emma F. Thomas ◽  
Catherine E. Amiot ◽  
Fathali M. Moghaddam
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Anthropology ◽  
Normative Systems ◽  
Violent Extremism ◽  
Identity Fusion ◽  
Group Members

AbstractWhitehouse adapts insights from evolutionary anthropology to interpret extreme self-sacrifice through the concept of identity fusion. The model neglects the role of normative systems in shaping behaviors, especially in relation to violent extremism. In peaceful groups, increasing fusion will actually decrease extremism. Groups collectively appraise threats and opportunities, actively debate action options, and rarely choose violence toward self or others.

The codevelopment of group relationships: The role of individual group member’s and other group members’ mutual influence and shared group environment.

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 640-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Lo Coco ◽  
Salvatore Gullo ◽  
Gabriele Profita ◽  
Chiara Pazzagli ◽  
Claudia Mazzeschi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mutual Influence ◽  
Individual Group ◽  
Group Environment ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Group Relationships

PERANAN ANGGOTA KELOMPOK TANI DALAM MENINGKATKAN PRODUKSI PADI SAWAH DI DESA KOROBHERA KECAMATAN MEGGO KABUPATEN SIKKA

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-70
Author(s):  
Toncerius M. Lesu ◽  
S.P.N. Nainiti ◽  
Serman Nikolaus
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Method ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Maximum Score ◽  
Central Production ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Farmer Groups

The aim of this research is to find out how big the role of the farmer group members in increasing rice production at Korobhera Village, Meggo Subdistrict, Sikka District. The research has been done on April to May 2019. This is a qualitative study with purposive sampling considering the site was one of rice central production. The objectives of the study were to know : 1) how big the role of the farmer group members to productivity increasing in the area of research ; 2) the constraints faced by the members of the farmer group. Sample was done randomly using simple random sampling method with a total sample size of 50 people, who were the members of four farmer groups existed. The results of research indicated that the role of farmer group members in increasing rice production at the location of research was high, shown by the percentage of the accomplishment maximum score from average score in the amount of 75,65% (average score 87). The constraints faced by members of farmer group were quite similar, which were financial capital limits problem, uncaged livestocks and the availability of production tools was often not on time.

Organic Leadership Style and Employee Engagement: The Mediating Effect of Social Relevance of Work in Context of Faculty Members in Higher Education

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G.P. Dang ◽  
Puneet Basur
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Social Relevance ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Operational Excellence

Leadership Style has been since long acknowledged by management scholars as being an important subject in relation to organizational executions and outcome. An effective leadership would not only be able to prevent job stress and burnout among group members, but would also be successful in enhancing the motivation and engagement of the employees. It has been widely accepted that operational excellence in an organization can only be maintained through engaged employees. In this study the researchers have strived to enhance the understanding of the complex relationship between the organic leadership style and the engagement level of the employees and to further comprehend the mediating role of social relevance of work in association of the two constructs i.e. leadership style and employee engagement, in context of faculty members in higher education sector.

scholarly journals Individual Differences in the Vocal Communication of Malayan Tapirs (Tapirus indicus) Considering Familiarity and Relatedness

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1026
Author(s):  
Robin Walb ◽  
Lorenzo von Fersen ◽  
Theo Meijer ◽  
Kurt Hammerschmidt
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Social Role ◽  
Animal Communication ◽  
Solitary Living ◽  
Low Visibility ◽  
Living Species ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Tapirus Indicus

Studies in animal communication have shown that many species have individual distinct calls. These individual distinct vocalizations can play an important role in animal communication because they can carry important information about the age, sex, personality, or social role of the signaler. Although we have good knowledge regarding the importance of individual vocalization in social living mammals, it is less clear to what extent solitary living mammals possess individual distinct vocalizations. We recorded and analyzed the vocalizations of 14 captive adult Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus) (six females and eight males) to answer this question. We investigated whether familiarity or relatedness had an influence on call similarity. In addition to sex-related differences, we found significant differences between all subjects, comparable to the individual differences found in highly social living species. Surprisingly, kinship appeared to have no influence on call similarity, whereas familiar subjects exhibited significantly higher similarity in their harmonic calls compared to unfamiliar or related subjects. The results support the view that solitary animals could have individual distinct calls, like highly social animals. Therefore, it is likely that non-social factors, like low visibility, could have an influence on call individuality. The increasing knowledge of their behavior will help to protect this endangered species.

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