Color classification by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in a matching-to-sample task.
We investigated chimpanzees' color classification using a matching-to-sample procedure. One of the two subjects had learned symbolic color names through long-term training, while the other had received less training and had a limited understanding of color names. The results showed similar distributions of classified colors in a color space, irrespective of the subjects' differential color-naming experience. However, the chimpanzee with little color-naming experience showed less stable classifications. These results suggest common features of color classification in chimpanzees, as well as the influence of color experience and/or the learning of color names on the stability of classification of colors.
Matsuno
Toyomi
T
Faculty of Integrated Human Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. matsuno@pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Kawai
Nobuyuki
N
Matsuzawa
Tetsuro
T
D000818:Animals; D003116:Color / Q000592:standards; D003118:Color Perception / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*; D003210:Concept Formation; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D010775:Photic Stimulation