动物数量认知能力的演化

Evolution of animal numerical cognition

数量认知能力是许多动物生而具有的重要认知能力,对个体的生存与繁衍均具有重要的适应意义。本文梳理了近年来有关动物数量认知能力的研究,基于客体档案系统(小数量表征)与近似数量系统(大数量表征)两大数量核心知识系统,比较了不同物种在数量认知能力上的相似性与差异性,结合行为证据与神经科学证据揭示了数量认知能力的适应意义。同时,还特别关注了与数量密切相关的连续量信息在动物个体的生存与繁衍中可能存在的重要作用。最后,本文提出了有关动物数量认知研究领域亟待解决的问题和未来可能的研究方向。

Numerical cognition,an innate important cognitive ability for many species of animals,is of great adaptive significance to individuals’survival and reproduction.This article reviews recent studies about animal numerical cognition.It compares interspecies similarities and differences based on object file system(representations of small numbers)and approximate numerical system(representations of large numbers).It also reveals the adaptive significance of numerical cognition by combining behavioral and neuroscientific research evidence.Meanwhile,we focus on the potentially important role of continuous quantity information closely related to numerosity.Finally,this article suggests some urgent issues and possible future directions in animal numerical cognition.