The idea that sensitivity to self-produced motion could lie at the foundations of the clear-cut divide that the brain operates between the two basic domains of inanimate and animate objects dates back to Aristotle. Sensitivity to self-propelled objects is apparent in human infants from around the fifth month of age, which leaves undetermined whether it is acquired by experience with animate objects or whether it is innately predisposed in the brain. Here, we report that newly hatched, visually naïve domestic chicks presented with objects exhibiting motion either self-produced or caused by physical contact prefer to associate with self-propelled objects. This finding supports the idea of an evolutionarily ancient, predisposed neural mechanism in the vertebrate brain for the detection of animacy.

Innate sensitivity for self-propelled causal agency in newly hatched chicks / E., Mascalzoni; L., Regolin; Vallortigara, Giorgio. - In: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. - ISSN 0027-8424. - STAMPA. - 107:9(2010), pp. 4483-4485. [10.1073/pnas.0908792107]

Innate sensitivity for self-propelled causal agency in newly hatched chicks

Vallortigara, Giorgio
2010-01-01

Abstract

The idea that sensitivity to self-produced motion could lie at the foundations of the clear-cut divide that the brain operates between the two basic domains of inanimate and animate objects dates back to Aristotle. Sensitivity to self-propelled objects is apparent in human infants from around the fifth month of age, which leaves undetermined whether it is acquired by experience with animate objects or whether it is innately predisposed in the brain. Here, we report that newly hatched, visually naïve domestic chicks presented with objects exhibiting motion either self-produced or caused by physical contact prefer to associate with self-propelled objects. This finding supports the idea of an evolutionarily ancient, predisposed neural mechanism in the vertebrate brain for the detection of animacy.
2010
9
E., Mascalzoni; L., Regolin; Vallortigara, Giorgio
Innate sensitivity for self-propelled causal agency in newly hatched chicks / E., Mascalzoni; L., Regolin; Vallortigara, Giorgio. - In: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. - ISSN 0027-8424. - STAMPA. - 107:9(2010), pp. 4483-4485. [10.1073/pnas.0908792107]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/83687
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