Brian Hare, Assistant Professor

What is human about our mind and brain and how did it get that way? Brian Hare leads the The Hominoid Psychology Research Group (www.3chimpsduke.com) which compares the psychology of hominoids (human and non-human apes). Specifically, we seek to identify which features our social problem-solving abilities have evolved since humans, bonobos, and chimpanzees shared a common ancestor. In addition, we compare the psychology of various primates (e.g. lemurs) and non-primates (e.g. dogs) to identify cases of psychological convergence. Such cases of convergence may provide a unique opportunity to infer how human-like social skills evolved. We conduct our non-invasive behavioral research in accredited African sanctuaries, The Duke Lemur Center and accredited zoos. In addition, we study the cognition of domestic dogs and other canids at the Duke Canine Cognition Center (www.dukedogs.com) where people bring their pet dogs in to participate in some of the problem solving games we present to great apes and children. We are hoping to understand more about the effect of domestication on dog cognition, identify breed differences in problem solving skills and generally understand the skills and limits of dog cognition in order to help us understand how we might help dogs be more effective companion animals (e.g. for disabled people, detection of substances, etc.).

Contact Info:

Office Location:	004 Bio Sci Building
Office Phone:	(919) 660-7292
Email Address:
Web Pages:	http://www.3chimpsduke.com http://www.dukedogs.com

Teaching (Spring 2012):

• EVANTH 122.01, HUMAN COGNITIVE EVOLUTION Synopsis

  Old Chem 101, TuTh 04:25 PM-05:40 PM

• EVANTH 222S.01, CANINE COG/ROLE IN HUMAN EVOLU Synopsis

  Bio Sci 013, W 02:50 PM-05:20 PM

Education:

Sofia Kovalevskaja Award	Alexander von Humboldt Foundation	2004
Ph.D.	Harvard	2004
B.A.	Emory University	1998

Research Interests: Human Cognitive Evolution

Keywords:

Cognition • Psychology • Domestication • Ape • Chimpanzee • Dog • Bonobo

Curriculum Vitae

Current Ph.D. Students  

• Kara Schroepfer  
• Alexandra G. Rosati  
• Christopher Krupenye  
• Jingzhi Tan  
• Evan L MacLean  

Recent Publications   (search)

1. with Sandel, A., Maclean, E., Convergent evolution in the social cognitive abilities of lemurs. Animal Behaviour. 81, 925-931 (2011)
2. with Wobber, T., Psychological health of orphan bonobos and chimpanzees in African sanctuaries. PLoS One, 6, e17147 (2011)
3. with Woods, V., Bonobo but not chimpanzee infants use socio-sexual contact, Primates no. 52 (2011), pp. 111-116

If your dog would like to participate in our problem solving games or you would just like more information about the Duke Canine Cognition Center, you can enroll at www.dukedogs.com or email dukedogcognition@gmail.com