The Natural History of Model Organisms: Insights into the evolution of social systems and species from baboon studies

Fischer, J., Higham,J., Alberts, S., Barrett, L., Beehner, J.C., Bergman, T., Carter, A., Collins, A., Elton, S., Fagot, J. et al., (2019). The Natural History of Model Organisms: Insights into the evolution of social systems and species from baboon studies. Elife, doi = 10.7554/eLife.50989 Present the baboon species, their ecology and much more Abstract – […]

Constraints on the lexicons of human languages have cognitive roots present in baboons (Papio papio)

Chemla, Dautriche, Buccola & Fagot (2019). Constraints on the lexicons of human languages have cognitive roots present in baboons (Papio papio). PNAS. ww.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.19070231163   Abstract – Universals in language are hard to come by, yet one candidate is that words across the lexicons of the world’s languages are, by and large, connected: When a word […]

High-fidelity copying is not necessarily the key to cumulative cultural evolution: a study in monkeys and children

Saldana C, Fagot J, Kirby S, Smith K, Claidière N. 2019 High-fidelity copying is not necessarily the key to cumulative cultural evolution: a study in monkeys and children. Proceedings of the Royal Society; B. 286:20190729   Abstract – The unique cumulative nature of human culture has often been explained by high-fidelity copying mechanisms found only […]

Switch cognitive flexibility in primates: Chimpanzes (Pan troglodytes) intermediate susceptibility to cognitive set

Pope, S.M., Fagot, J., Meguerditchian, A., Watzek, J., Lew-Levy, S., Audrey, M.M., & Hopkins, W.D. (2019). Switch cognitive flexibility in primates: Chimpanzes (Pan troglodytes) intermediate susceptibility to cognitive set. Journal of Comparative Psychology   Abstract – Within human problem-solving, the propensity to use a familiar approach, rather than switch to a more efficient alternative is […]

Non-adjacent dependencies processing in human and non-human primates

Malassis, R., Rey, A. & Fagot, J. (2018). Non-adjacent dependencies processing in human and non-human primates. Cognitive Science. First published: 20 May 2018, https://doi.org/10.1111/cogs.12617   Abstract – Human and non-human primates share the ability to extract adjacent dependencies and, under certain conditions, non-adjacent dependencies (i.e., predictive relationships between elements that are separated by one or […]

Regularity extraction across species: Associative learning mechanisms shared by humans and non-human primates.

Rey, M., Minier, L., Malassis, R., Bogeart, L. & Fagot, J. (2018). Regularity extraction across species: Associative learning mechanisms shared by humans and non-human primates. Topics in Cognitive Science. First published: 21 May 201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tops.123433   Abstract – Extracting the regularities of our environment is a core cognitive ability in human and non‐human primates. Comparative […]

The repeatability of cognitive performance: a meta-analysis

Cauchoix et al. (2018). The repeatability of cognitive performance: a meta-analysis. Philosophical transactions B. Published 13 August 2018.DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0281   Abstract – Behavioural and cognitive processes play important roles in mediating an individual’s interactions with its environment. Yet, while there is a vast literature on repeatable individual differences in behaviour, relatively little is known about […]

The baboon: a model for the study of language evolution

Fagot, J., Boë, L.J., Berthomier, F., Claidière, N., Malassis, R., Meguerditchian, A., Rey, A. & Montant, M. (2018). The baboon: a model for the study of language evolution. Journal of Human Evolution. 126, 39-50   Abstract – Comparative research on the origins of human language often focuses on a limited number of language-related cognitive functions […]

Enhanced cognitive flexibility in the semi-nomadic Himba

Pope, S. M., Fagot, J., Meguerditchian, A., Washburn, D. A., & Hopkins, W. (2018). Enhanced cognitive flexibility in the semi-nomadic Himba. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. October 2018. DOI: 10.1177/0022022118806581   Abstract – Through codified rule-use, humans can accurately solve many problems. Yet, mechanized strategies can also be costly. After adopting a solution strategy, humans often […]

Convergent transformation and selection in cultural evolution

Claidière, N., Kodjo-kuma Amedon, G., André J.P., Kirby, S., Smith, K., Sperber, D., Fagot, J. (2017) Convergent transformation and selection in cultural evolution. Evolution and Human Behavior (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2017.12.0073   Abstract – In biology, natural selection is the main explanation of adaptations and it is an attractive idea to think that an analogous force could […]

Analogical reasoning

Fagot, J.(2017). Analogical reasoning. In J. Vonk, T.K. Shackelford (eds.), Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1076-13   Abstract – Comparative studies with nonhuman animals have questioned whether language is a prerequisite for complex forms of analogical reasoning. In this chapter, we will firstly document  the fact that nonhuman animals have the capacity to process […]

Comparing human and nonhuman animals performance on domain-general functions: Towards a multiple bottleneck scenario of language evolution?

Fagot, J., Malassis, R., Medam, T., Montant, M. (2017). Comparing human and nonhuman animals performance on domain-general functions: Towards a multiple bottleneck scenario of language evolution? in Boe, L.J., Fagot, J. Perrier, P., & Schwartz, J.L. (eds.). Origins of human language: continuities and splits with nonhuman primates. Peter Lang (pp. 329-365)   Abstract – How […]

What’s up with Wahoo? Exploring Baboon Vocalizations with Speech Science Techniques

Berthomier, F., Sawallis, T., Fagot, J., & Boë, L.J. (2017). What’s up with Wahoo? Exploring Baboon Vocalizations with Speech Science Techniques. in Boe, J.L., Fagot, J., Perrier, P. & Schwartz, J.L. (eds.). Origins of human language: continuities and splits with nonhuman primates. Peter Lang (101-136).   Astract – The baboon repertoire includes around fifteen vocalizations. […]

BOOK – Origins of human language: continuities and splits with nonhuman primates (open-access)

  Boë, L.J., Fagot, J., Perrier, P. & Schwartz, J.L. (Eds., 2017). Origins of human language: continuities and splits with nonhuman primates. Oxford : Peter Lang   Abstract – This book proposes a detailed picture of the continuities and ruptures between communication in primates and language in humans. It explores a diversity of perspectives on […]

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