Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.
Cogn Neuropsychol. 2012;29(1-2):213-36. doi: 10.1080/02643294.2012.654772. Epub 2012 Jan 31.
Studies on the ontogenetic origins of human knowledge provide evidence for a small set of separable systems of core knowledge dealing with the representation of inanimate and animate objects, number, and geometry. Because core knowledge systems are evolutionarily ancient, they can be investigated from a comparative perspective, making use of various animal models. In this review, I discuss evidence showing precocious abilities in nonhuman species to represent (a) objects that move partly or fully out of view and their basic mechanical properties such as solidity, (b) the cardinal and ordinal/sequential aspects of numerical cognition and rudimentary arithmetic with small numerosities, and (c) the geometrical relationships among extended surfaces in the surrounding layout. Controlled rearing studies suggest that the abilities associated with core knowledge systems of objects, number, and geometry are observed in animals in the absence (or with very reduced) experience, supporting a nativistic foundation of such cognitive mechanisms. Animal models also promise a fresh approach to the issue of the neurobiological and genetic mechanisms underlying the expression of core knowledge systems.
人类知识发生学起源的研究为一系列核心知识的可分离系统提供了证据，这些系统涉及无生命和有生命物体、数字和几何的表示。由于核心知识系统在进化上是古老的，因此可以从比较的角度进行研究，利用各种动物模型。在这篇综述中，我讨论了表明非人类物种具有以下能力的证据：（a）代表部分或完全超出视野的物体及其基本机械特性（如坚固性）；（b）在小数量的情况下，对数字认知和基本算术的基数和顺序/顺序方面；（c）周围布局中扩展表面之间的几何关系。受控饲养研究表明，与物体、数字和几何的核心知识系统相关的能力在动物中是在缺乏（或非常减少）经验的情况下观察到的，这支持了这种认知机制的天生基础。动物模型也为核心知识系统表达的神经生物学和遗传机制的问题提供了一种新的方法。
