Do animals have self-awareness?

Self- consciousness existence in animals has been a philosophical and biological

problem existing for years. Debates on this problem are mainly about whether this is
discrimination or non-ethical propose. However, the study on animal self-awareness is
an excellent inspiration for the human mind. The clarification of self-awareness
definition has improved in these debates.

In the late 1970s-1990s, the most common experiment method is the mirror test.
Scientist marks some part of the animals which cannot be seen usually, and they put
animals beside a mirror. The purpose is to identify whether the animal is capable of
recognizing themselves beside the mirror. The ability to self recognizing is considered
as the significant feature of self-awareness. In 1981, the scientist tested chimpanzees,
orangutans, and gorillas. The result reveals that chimpanzees and orangutans pass the
test, but gorillas did not.

In 2001, the scientist started to do mirror tests on dolphins. The result indicated that
there are no social actions made by dolphins, and they use the mirror to detect their
marks. A distinguish difference appears that dolphins are less care about other
dolphins, compared with orangutans and chimpanzees. This result is of considerable
significance because it suggested that high-leveled cognition does not just appear on
primates. Considering the brain structures are entirely different on primates and
dolphins, the mechanical condition of cognition becomes a serious topic. This also
shows the evolutional tendency of cognition appeared in different species.

In 2006, studies showed that Asian elephants might also have self-awareness. They
divided the process into 5 phases. “There were five experimental phases: baseline
(T1), cover mirror (T2), open mirror (T3), covered-mirror sham (T4), and the mark
test (T5). “ () Although 2 of the three subject elephants did not pass the test, some
self-directed behavior that never happened before suggested that they are aware of
themselves. Besides, the response pattern is similar among orangutans, dolphins, and
Asian elephants, but the physical cause beside this similarity is still a mystery.

In 2008, studies showed that Magpie passes the mirror test, which is evidence of self-
recognition. This is a strong argument for denying that self-consciousness derives
from the neocortex, which Magpies do not have.

However, the ability to recognize selves behind the mirror is not a piece of sufficient
evidence for proving that an individual has the ability of self-awareness. The
consciousness on a higher level of cognition is difficult to reflect and is still needed to
detect.
As a result, recent studies tried more scientific ways to scan brain activity while
subjects are doing the decision making. In 2015, the scientist did tests on rats to
detect their brain when they are forced to choose the next step to go. “Neuroscientists
found that regions of the hippocampus, which are associated with simulating potential
choices, were activated at those choice points by rats as well as other vertebrates.” In
this experiment, the ability of self-awareness is considered as the ability to separate
the prediction of the future and the real-life experience. The researchers argue that
subjects must have the original self-consciousness to reach the standard. This
interpretation may differ from the public opinion of self-consciousness; at least this
makes it less horrifying.

In conclusion, the consciousness topic is still a misery to humanity, and experiments

on animals are continuing to refresh our understanding of awareness.
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