Chimpanzee 'cunning'

Chimpanzees have the ability to perceive and predict the impact of their behavior on the surrounding environment, the ability that is only available in humans.

According to Discovery news page, discoveries of experts from Kyoto University's Primate Research Institute (Japan) challenged the long-standing hypotheses about the boundary between 'people' and 'things' and clarified the source. Evolutionary root of cognitive process.

A chimpanzee participating in the experiment - Photo: Kyoto University.

Previous studies have shown that many primates, elephants and dolphins can identify themselves in the mirror. On that basis, Japanese scientists have conducted three tests to check whether the chimpanzee, the closest 'relative', is capable of 'thinking' like people when doing some specific actions or not.

In the first test , 3 chimpanzees started video games by placing their fingers on the touch screen and using marbles, similar to a computer mouse, to move one of the cursor on the screen. The movement of the second pointer, designed to disperse attention or confuse chimpanzees, is controlled by the computer. 'Game' ends when the animal hits the target or after an interruption.

At that time, the experts asked the chimp to confirm with the finger that controlled the cursor, and if only hit would be rewarded with pieces of apple or raisins. All three have scores above 90% and are less distracted by pointers. This proves that chimpanzees are capable of distinguishing the movement of the cursor as they control and the pointer is controlled by other factors.

In the second experiment , both pointers moved independently of the control of chimpanzees and computers. In essence, the marble is removed and no longer connected to the computer screen. If the animal performs well in the first experiment but does bad things in this experiment, the researchers think that shows that chimpanzees not only react to what they see but also know themselves to take care of the thing. control cursor.

In the final test for the most talented chimpanzees, the team delayed the interaction time between the pointer and the ball as if both were not "chilling" with each other and deflecting their control. point on the screen.

According to experts, all results prove that chimpanzees and humans share the basic cognitive process when they identify themselves as an independent agent. This is evidence of the first behavior that shows chimpanzees can distinguish between themselves and others for external situations on the basis of self-observation.