Allen and Beatrix Gardner were American psychologists known for their pioneering work in animal language research. They are best recognized for their experiments with a chimpanzee named Washoe, who was taught to use American Sign Language. Their work aimed to explore the cognitive abilities of non-human primates and their capacity for communication. The Gardners conducted their research in the 1960s and 1970s, significantly contributing to the field of animal cognition. Their findings sparked debates about the nature of language and intelligence, influencing both scientific and public perceptions of primates and their abilities to understand and use human-like communication.