Comment on "Differential sensitivity to human communication in dogs, wolves, and human infants".
Topál et al. (Reports, 4 September 2009, p. 1269) reported that dogs' sensitivity to reading and using human signals contributes to the emergence of a spatial perseveration error (the A-not-B error) for locating objects. Here, I argue that the authors' conclusion was biased by two confounding factors: the use of an atypical A-not-B search task and an inadequate nonsocial condition as a control.
Fiset
Sylvain
S
Secteur des Sciences Humaines, Université de Moncton, Campus d'Edmundston, Edmundston, New-Brunswick E3V 2S8, Canada. sylvain.fiset@umce.ca
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003071:Cognition; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003463:Cues; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D012107:Research Design; D012919:Social Behavior; D019596:Wolves