Identifying hallmarks of consciousness in non-mammalian speciesEdelman, D.B. and Baars, B.J. and Seth, A.K. (2005) Identifying hallmarks of consciousness in non-mammalian species. Consciousness and Cognition, 14. pp. 169-187. Full text available as:
AbstractMost early studies of consciousness have focused on human subjects. This is understandable, given that humans are capable of reporting accurately the events they experience through language or by way of other kinds of voluntary response. As researchers turn their attention to other animals, ‘‘accurate report’’ methodologies become increasingly difficult to apply. Alternative strategies for amassing evidence for consciousness in non-human species include searching for evolutionary homologies in anatomical substrates and measurement of physiological correlates of conscious states. In addition, creative means must be developed for eliciting behaviors consistent with consciousness. In this paper, we explore whether necessary conditions for consciousness can be established for species as disparate as birds and cephalopods. We conclude that a strong case can be made for avian species and that the case for cephalopods remains open. Nonetheless, a consistent effort should yield new means for interpreting animal behavior. Comments/DiscussionThis article addresses the question of whether certain non-mammalian species, including birds and coleoid cephalopods, possess the necessary properties and conditions for sensory consciousness. It suggests that, in the absence of accurate verbal report, certain benchmarks, established originally for the human case, can provide critical reference standards for the investigation of animal consciousness, even in species far removed from the mammalian, or vertebrate, lines.
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