Cognitive scientist: Using the pioneering work of comparative psychologist Gordon Gallup as a model, several studies have investigated animals' capacity for mirror self-recognition (MSR)  Most animals exposed to a mirror respond only with social behavior, such as aggression  However, in the case of the great apes, repeated exposure to mirrors leads to self-directed behaviors, such as exploring the inside of the mouth, suggesting that these animals recognize the reflection as an image of self
The implication of these studies is that the great apes have a capacity for self-awareness unique among nonhuman species
If an animal does not have the capacity for MSR, it does not have the capacity for self-awareness.