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The meaning of primate signals
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THE MEANING OF PRIHATE SIGNALS. R. Harrd, and V. Reynolds, Editors. Cambridge Ll;l~;rst&Press. Cambridge - Editions de la Maison des Sciences de 1'Homme. 255 pp., ISBN: 0 521 2594'44 (hard covers); ISBH (France only) 2 7351 6072 3: Price: f 25.00, S 39.50. This work is the result of a conference organised in 1981 by the Werner-Reimerstiftung.It is a collection of contributions made by zyarchers and scholars on a topical theme: communication in primates, , more particularly, the meaning of their signals. Each chapter of the book is followed b one or several brief discussions, either by the other contributors or by pare. icipants . at the conference. The twelve chapters can be placed into cate coos: one containing factual accounts of the observation ,of wild monkeys B the pa ers of Seyfarth, E;;;;y, Re nolds) or of experiments in a laboratory setting PTerrace), and the theoretical considerations. focussing on the interpretation of commuhcatory behaviour in primates. All the contributors, to varying degrees. ~;zI;;the problem of evaluating the behaviour of monkeys independent1 of conceptual systems developed for strictly human behaviour, sueK language. The im ortant concept of intentionality is taken up by Quiatt g his discussion of Ehe aptitude for deceit in terms of the learning of cultural constraints or as the result of natural selection. Harre anal ses the terminology employed by primatologists which seems to fluctuate beeween two distinct concepts: one resorting to a causal explanation, and the other calling for an explanation in terms of intentionality. Harris challenges the use of a model of human language in order to understand 'animal langua es'; he suggests that the latter should be approached in terms of po9ymedial signalling. leading to a semantic description of such systems. Asquith roposes an interesting distinction between two types of anthropomorphic Bescription: the first is labelled generic, and is based on the attribution of a general purposefulnessto the behaviour of higher species; the second is referred to as specific insofar as it ascribes articular mental states to animals. Another distinction, taken from PurPon. is proposed betws a conscious agent1 A-purposive behaviour (behaviour performed by O-purposive behaviour, that is to say, non-intentional behaviour of an appears when behaviour is organism. as indeed do the an interpretation of behaviour based on
The anthropological terminology gives rise to the general tone of this work. which is hardly surprising, given that the majority of contributors are anthropologists. Furthermore, the concepts discussed often involve the introduction of philosophical notions which may render the reading somewhat arduous for ethologists and psychologists. The format of the book and above all the titles of each of the three sections (The Setting of the Problem, Theoretical Preliminaries, Steps Towards a Solution1 give the impression that a solution is effectively reached. This is far f% the truth, since, for example, one of the chapters in the third section summarizes the work of Terrace on the learning of a sign exchange system in anthropoids, and concludes that there is no evidence of It is precisely linguistic capacities in signing- or language-trainedapes. this issue of language that lacks elaboration, and it is unfortunate that the authors have not invited linguists to offer their contribution with respect to the definition and the specificity of human language. In the same vein, the comments of Ettlinger are pertinent in that, in an attempt to resolve a certain number of theoretical problems, he Egfyes to, respecify the primate/Trfz;;$ar+son,in terms of,primate/human The interest of this change in the possibility of ursuing 'comparisonsbetween a non-linguist childiind a non-human primate ra!her than questioning whet2yi; primate displays a particular behaviour such as language. Furthermore, surprising to note the near total absence of reference to child psycholog which can, however, provide enlightenment by helping to clarify the centrJ concepts considered, such as intentionalityand awareness. As a whole, while more and more primatolopts are turning i~~;ar%: cognitive ethology, one must congratulate the par icipants in this work for having taken up the theme of the significance of primate signals. having pursued it from various angles. from a general description to the conceptual problems of their interpretation.
210
&kcacuyL&llc$ai’ 31. Ch. Jose h Aiguier 13r)02+kuse~ .P le cedex 09 (France)
Sex Funct J.P.C Elsev
ISBN:
D ifferences
in the Brain. The Relation between Structure and Progress in Brain Research, Volume 61. G.J. DeVr 7e5, H.B.M. Corner, DeBruin, Uyl in95 and M.A. editors. ier, Amsterdam-New York-Oxford, 1384, 516 9 134.75, PPI 0-444-80532-X ion.
Volume 61 of Progress in Brain Research is devoted to the 13th Proceedings of the Summer School of Brain Research which was held in Amsterdam in August 1983. Thirty-one chapters gathered in 4 are sect ions devoted respectively to steroid actions on the central nervous syste.m (6 chapters), morphological sex differences in the brain (7 chapters), functional sex differences in the brain (6 chapters), and sex differences in the human brain i10 chaptersj. All Tnajor modern issues in these topics are dealt with by renowned experts in the field. Space limitations obviously make it impossible to cover In the high1 ights detail content of this volume. A few wlllr however, provide the potent ial reader with an idea of what can be expected from the book. Section one presents for recent data on membrane receptors testosterone metabolism in the brain. estrogens and on Three chapters are then devoted to sexual differentiation in rodents studies the including data on in vitro and role of alpha-foetoprotein (Toran-Allerand), and on the participation of oestrogens and serotonin (Dohler and Got-ski’s groupsj. Sect ion two discusses brain sex differences In anatomy. This includes studies of the sexuallv dimorphic nucleus of the I rat5 preopt ic area in (Gorski j, the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (Breedlove), the av i an song system (DeVoogdj, the with and neurotransmltter system special reference to Vr ies other vasopressin ide et al:). chapters are devoted to methodological issues (Uylings et al 1 developmental and to plasticity (JurasKal and control of gonadotrophin secret ion 5ex (Dyer) which Introduces the third section on functional differences. This sect ion concerns behaviour and it5 5 exua 1 animal dimorphism. Topics which are covered include lordosls (Harlan et al), behavloural dimorphism and circadian rhythms isodersten), hormone-transmitter-behaviour Interact ions sexual (Meyerson), and aggressive behaviour ide Jonge and van de Poll; Krul.:. et al), play fighting and spatial abilities (Bratty) and various aspects of monkey behaviour iKeverne et al; Abbott). The latter two chapters lead to the fourth section which is devoted to the human brain and behavlour. historical After a introduction iSwaab and Hofman) , available information 0n t he possible biological ihormonal, bases of human sexua 1 d lmor ph i sm are reviewed in depth. This inciudes data derived from endocrine IU i t h defects during exogenous pregnancy, pregnancies treated prosestins or estrogens, In gender roie, gender and olsturbances
THE MEANING OF PRIHATE SIGNALS. R. Harrd, and V. Reynolds, Editors. Cambridge Ll;l~;rst&Press. Cambridge - Editions de la Maison des Sciences de 1'Homme. 255 pp., ISBN: 0 521 2594'44 (hard covers); ISBH (France only) 2 7351 6072 3: Price: f 25.00, S 39.50. This work is the result of a conference organised in 1981 by the Werner-Reimerstiftung.It is a collection of contributions made by zyarchers and scholars on a topical theme: communication in primates, , more particularly, the meaning of their signals. Each chapter of the book is followed b one or several brief discussions, either by the other contributors or by pare. icipants . at the conference. The twelve chapters can be placed into cate coos: one containing factual accounts of the observation ,of wild monkeys B the pa ers of Seyfarth, E;;;;y, Re nolds) or of experiments in a laboratory setting PTerrace), and the theoretical considerations. focussing on the interpretation of commuhcatory behaviour in primates. All the contributors, to varying degrees. ~;zI;;the problem of evaluating the behaviour of monkeys independent1 of conceptual systems developed for strictly human behaviour, sueK language. The im ortant concept of intentionality is taken up by Quiatt g his discussion of Ehe aptitude for deceit in terms of the learning of cultural constraints or as the result of natural selection. Harre anal ses the terminology employed by primatologists which seems to fluctuate beeween two distinct concepts: one resorting to a causal explanation, and the other calling for an explanation in terms of intentionality. Harris challenges the use of a model of human language in order to understand 'animal langua es'; he suggests that the latter should be approached in terms of po9ymedial signalling. leading to a semantic description of such systems. Asquith roposes an interesting distinction between two types of anthropomorphic Bescription: the first is labelled generic, and is based on the attribution of a general purposefulnessto the behaviour of higher species; the second is referred to as specific insofar as it ascribes articular mental states to animals. Another distinction, taken from PurPon. is proposed betws a conscious agent1 A-purposive behaviour (behaviour performed by O-purposive behaviour, that is to say, non-intentional behaviour of an appears when behaviour is organism. as indeed do the an interpretation of behaviour based on
The anthropological terminology gives rise to the general tone of this work. which is hardly surprising, given that the majority of contributors are anthropologists. Furthermore, the concepts discussed often involve the introduction of philosophical notions which may render the reading somewhat arduous for ethologists and psychologists. The format of the book and above all the titles of each of the three sections (The Setting of the Problem, Theoretical Preliminaries, Steps Towards a Solution1 give the impression that a solution is effectively reached. This is far f% the truth, since, for example, one of the chapters in the third section summarizes the work of Terrace on the learning of a sign exchange system in anthropoids, and concludes that there is no evidence of It is precisely linguistic capacities in signing- or language-trainedapes. this issue of language that lacks elaboration, and it is unfortunate that the authors have not invited linguists to offer their contribution with respect to the definition and the specificity of human language. In the same vein, the comments of Ettlinger are pertinent in that, in an attempt to resolve a certain number of theoretical problems, he Egfyes to, respecify the primate/Trfz;;$ar+son,in terms of,primate/human The interest of this change in the possibility of ursuing 'comparisonsbetween a non-linguist childiind a non-human primate ra!her than questioning whet2yi; primate displays a particular behaviour such as language. Furthermore, surprising to note the near total absence of reference to child psycholog which can, however, provide enlightenment by helping to clarify the centrJ concepts considered, such as intentionalityand awareness. As a whole, while more and more primatolopts are turning i~~;ar%: cognitive ethology, one must congratulate the par icipants in this work for having taken up the theme of the significance of primate signals. having pursued it from various angles. from a general description to the conceptual problems of their interpretation.
210
&kcacuyL&llc$ai’ 31. Ch. Jose h Aiguier 13r)02+kuse~ .P le cedex 09 (France)
Sex Funct J.P.C Elsev
ISBN:
D ifferences
in the Brain. The Relation between Structure and Progress in Brain Research, Volume 61. G.J. DeVr 7e5, H.B.M. Corner, DeBruin, Uyl in95 and M.A. editors. ier, Amsterdam-New York-Oxford, 1384, 516 9 134.75, PPI 0-444-80532-X ion.
Volume 61 of Progress in Brain Research is devoted to the 13th Proceedings of the Summer School of Brain Research which was held in Amsterdam in August 1983. Thirty-one chapters gathered in 4 are sect ions devoted respectively to steroid actions on the central nervous syste.m (6 chapters), morphological sex differences in the brain (7 chapters), functional sex differences in the brain (6 chapters), and sex differences in the human brain i10 chaptersj. All Tnajor modern issues in these topics are dealt with by renowned experts in the field. Space limitations obviously make it impossible to cover In the high1 ights detail content of this volume. A few wlllr however, provide the potent ial reader with an idea of what can be expected from the book. Section one presents for recent data on membrane receptors testosterone metabolism in the brain. estrogens and on Three chapters are then devoted to sexual differentiation in rodents studies the including data on in vitro and role of alpha-foetoprotein (Toran-Allerand), and on the participation of oestrogens and serotonin (Dohler and Got-ski’s groupsj. Sect ion two discusses brain sex differences In anatomy. This includes studies of the sexuallv dimorphic nucleus of the I rat5 preopt ic area in (Gorski j, the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (Breedlove), the av i an song system (DeVoogdj, the with and neurotransmltter system special reference to Vr ies other vasopressin ide et al:). chapters are devoted to methodological issues (Uylings et al 1 developmental and to plasticity (JurasKal and control of gonadotrophin secret ion 5ex (Dyer) which Introduces the third section on functional differences. This sect ion concerns behaviour and it5 5 exua 1 animal dimorphism. Topics which are covered include lordosls (Harlan et al), behavloural dimorphism and circadian rhythms isodersten), hormone-transmitter-behaviour Interact ions sexual (Meyerson), and aggressive behaviour ide Jonge and van de Poll; Krul.:. et al), play fighting and spatial abilities (Bratty) and various aspects of monkey behaviour iKeverne et al; Abbott). The latter two chapters lead to the fourth section which is devoted to the human brain and behavlour. historical After a introduction iSwaab and Hofman) , available information 0n t he possible biological ihormonal, bases of human sexua 1 d lmor ph i sm are reviewed in depth. This inciudes data derived from endocrine IU i t h defects during exogenous pregnancy, pregnancies treated prosestins or estrogens, In gender roie, gender and olsturbances