Self-Recognition of Mirror Reflection

Determining whether an animal species has the capacity to recognize its self in a mirror can give us evidence as to whether or not that animal species has the capacity to mentally represent its self as well as other members of its species and use those representations in its mental activity. The basic approach begins by simply giving mirror exposure to the animal. Through this exposure, animals capable of self-recognition undergo similar behavioral trajectories:

1. Social behavior - responding to image as if it is another animal

2. Exploratory behavior - looking behind the mirror

3. Contingency training - testing to see if visual information matches motor behavior, like moving hands while watching the mirror

4. Self-directed behavior and self-inspection - to examine eyes, teeth, hair, genitals, etc

The final test, the Mirror Self-Recognition (MSR) Test, involves placing odorless spots on the animal that can only be visually accessed through the use of a mirror. A control spot, odorless and colorless, is also placed on the animal. If that animal approaches the mirror and consistently and systematically interacts with the visual dot more than it did before the marking process, then it evidence that the animal is capable of recognizing itself in the mirror.

The Mirror Self-Recognition Test has been done on a wide range of primates demonstrating that this ability is typically present in apes but absent in monkeys.