Skip to main content

Putting the cart before the horse: claims for mirror self-recognition in horses are unfounded

Animal Cognition volume 25, pages 1–4 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

The recent article by Baragli, Scopa, Maglieri, and Palagi (Anim Cogn https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01502-7, 2021) that claims to demonstrate mirror self-recognition (MSR) in horses is not based on compelling evidence. We identify problems with their experimental procedures, data, and assertion about “demonstrating MSR at group level.” Examples of these problems include incomplete experimental design, absence of important control conditions, inappropriate terminology, suboptimal mark application procedures and coding of videos, ambiguity of videos presented as supporting evidence, and inconsistencies in data presentation and interpretation. It is not the case that their study “marks a turning point in the analytical technique of MSR exploration.”

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Anderson JR, Gallup GG Jr (2011a) Do rhesus monkeys recognize themselves in mirrors? Am J Primatol 73:603–606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JR, Gallup GG Jr (2011b) Which primates recognize themselves in mirrors? PLoS Biol 9(3):e1001023. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001024

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JR, Gallup GG Jr (2015) Mirror-self-recognition: a review and critique of attempts to promote and engineer self-recognition in primates. Primates 56:317–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baragli P, Scopa C, Maglieri V, Palagi E (2021) If horses had toes: demonstrating mirror self recognition at group level in Equus caballus. Anim Cogn. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01502-7

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Freeberg TM (2020) On mark-test replication and mirror self-recognition in magpies. J Comp Psychol 134:361–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallup GG Jr (1970) Chimpanzees: self-recognition. Science 167:86–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallup GG Jr, Anderson JR (2018) The “olfactory mirror” and other recent attempts to demonstrate self-recognition in non-primate species. Behav Proc 148:16–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallup GG Jr, Anderson JR (2020) Self-recognition in animals: where do we stand 50 years later? Lessons from cleaner wrasse and other species. Psychol Conscious Theory Res Pract 7:46–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallup GG Jr, Wallnau LB, Suarez SD (1980) Failure to find self-recognition in mother-infant and infant-infant rhesus monkey pairs. Folia Primatol 33:210–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallup GG Jr, Anderson JR, Platek S (2011) Self-recognition. In: Gallagher S (ed) The oxford handbook of the self. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 80–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohda M, Hotta T, Takeyama T, Awata S, Tanaka H, Asai J-y et al (2019) If a fish can pass the mark test, what are the implications for consciousness and self-awareness testing in animals? PLoS Biol 17(2):e3000021. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000021

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ma X, Jin Y, Luo B, Zhang G, Wei R, Liu D (2015) Giant pandas failed to show mirror self-recognition. Anim Cogn 18:713–721

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macellini S, Ferrari PF, Bonini L, Fogassi L, Paukner A (2010) A modified mark test for own-body recognition in pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina). Anim Cogn 13:631–639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plotnik JM, de Waal FBM, Reiss D (2006) Self-recognition in an Asian elephant. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:17053–17057

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Posada S, Colell M (2007) Another gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) recognizes himself in a mirror. Am J Primatol 69:576–583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Povinelli DJ (1989) Failure to find self-recognition in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in contrast to their use of mirror cues to discover hidden food. J Comp Psychol 103:122–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prior H, Schwarz A, Güntürkün O (2008) Mirror-induced behavior in the magpie (Pica pica): evidence of self-recognition. PLoS Biol 6(8):e202. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0060202

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Shillito DJ, Gallup GG Jr, Beck BB (1999) Factors affecting mirror behaviour in western lowland gorillas, Gorilla gorilla. Anim Behav 57:999–104

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soler M, Colmenaro JM, Pérez-Contreras T, Peralta-Sánchez JM (2020) Replication of the mirror mark test experiment in the magpie (Pica pica) does not provide evidence of self-recognition. J Comp Psychol 134:363–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suddendorf T, Collier-Baker E (2009) The evolution of primate visual self-recognition: evidence of absence in lesser apes. Proc R Soc B 276:1671–1677

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA

    Gordon G. Gallup Jr.

  2. Department of Psychology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto, Japan

    James R. Anderson

Authors
  1. Gordon G. Gallup Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James R. Anderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gordon G. Gallup Jr..

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gallup, G.G., Anderson, J.R. Putting the cart before the horse: claims for mirror self-recognition in horses are unfounded. Anim Cogn 25, 1–4 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01538-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01538-9

Keywords

  • Mirror self-recognition
  • Contingency testing
  • Self-directed responses
  • Mark test