Self-Awareness in Common Marmoset (Challithrix jacchus)
Self-awareness, mirror self-recognition, mirror test, common marmoset, Callithrix jacchus.
Consciousness, as a biological phenomenon, consists of all states of feeling, sensation or awareness (SEARLE, 1997). To different studied taxon, there is considerable discussion about foundational neural structures for consciousness (EDELMAN et al. 2005). Specialized behaviour, sophisticated actions of communication, metacognition, social interaction, spatial orientation, use of mental maps for navigation and spatial memory, are some examples that demonstrates the presence of consciousness not only to the genus Homo (SANT'ANA, 2009). Besides, for some species, it is evident the presence of flexible and complex memory, the use of tools and accessories and simple and complex reasoning, all traits that indicates possible parallels between conscious processes in human and non-human animals (COOK, 1993). This conceptual work appraises the expression of self-awareness over mirror self-recognition tests and spatial perception testes, evaluating self-consciousness behaviours in Callithrix jacchus, to answer questions about the consciousness expression in nonhuman animals.