In the above video, Koko, at 9-years-old, demonstrates her remarkable comprehension skills.
When I request that Koko find something soft, she presents a blanket and then correctly signs its color, orange. I couldn’t help but tell her how smart she is.
Then we explore a drawing together, and I ask her to point out what’s wrong. She identifies a car with a square tire and a woman walking a tiger down the street.
Finally, I hold up a drawing with four separate images and ask Koko to find the eyes. Once again, she responds correctly.
What moves me most about these exchanges is how clearly they show Koko’s comprehension. She wasn’t just repeating signs; she was reasoning, evaluating, and making connections. These are qualities once thought to be uniquely human, yet Koko demonstrated them clearly and convincingly.
