Cognition

Abstract

Cognition refers to the process of encoding, storing, and using information to solve ecological and social problems. Primate cognition is particularly concerned with pinpointing the mental representations and the cognitive processes underlying complex technological or social behavior, their function, and their evolutionary origins. Interspecific comparisons play a very prominent role in primate cognition as they constitute the raw material for making inferences about cognitive evolution, which has been a major focus in this field. Two main factors have been suggested to be critical for the evolution of primate cognition: sociality and feeding ecology. This entry covers the major findings, evolutionary accounts, and historical roots, as well as the current directions in primate cognition research.