The complexity of socially transmitted food preferences in rodents: a model for human epistemic trust?
Overview
Paper Summary
This commentary explores the social transmission of food preference (STFP) in rodents as a potential model for understanding human epistemic trust. The author argues that the neurobiological mechanisms and behavioral observations in STFP studies, particularly involving oxytocin, may have implications for how humans evaluate and trust information from others, but acknowledges further research is needed to confirm the generalizability to humans.
Explain Like I'm Five
Scientists found that rats learn what food is safe by sniffing other rats. This is like how you learn who to trust for good information, but they need to study it more to be sure.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
None identified.
Identified Limitations
Rating Explanation
This is a commentary that proposes an interesting hypothesis but is based mainly on animal studies with limited direct evidence for the claims about human trust. The methodology of the reviewed studies is generally sound, but the overall rating is limited by the generalizability concerns.
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