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Progress in study on animal's numerical competence

Ma Chaolin, Li Baoming

Institute of Neurobiology,Fudan University.Shanghai 200433

Abstract

Animal's numerical competence has been one of the central issues in comparative psychology, cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience. A great number of studies indicate that animals have a capability to subitize small numerousness and judge relative numerousness. However, it is pendent if they have the counting ability. There is no evidence that animals can estimate numerousness. Neurophysiological studies show that the posterior parietal cortex and the prefrontal cortex in monkeys are involved in the neural mechanisms underlying numerical competence.

Key words: Numerical competence;Posterior parietal cortex;Prefrontal cortex;Monkey

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Citing This Article：

Ma Chaolin, Li Baoming. Progress in study on animal's numerical competence. Acta Physiol Sin 2004; 56 (6): (in Chinese with English abstract).