Monkeys might be more intelligent than we believe and have the ability to intuitively 'understand others' thoughts,' much like humans do.
Grasping what another person knows involves a complex capability that young humans typically start developing around their third year of life.
Researchers have dedicated nearly half a century to finding evidence that various species, ranging from chimps to ravens, possess this ability; however, numerous experts continue to be doubtful.
Currently, scientists possess compelling proof that bonobos genuinely have the ability to understand human thoughts and utilize this insight to interact effectively for obtaining a delicious reward.
Three bonobos — Kanzi, who is 43 years old, Nyota, aged 25, and 13-year-old Teco, who are companions and reside at a research center in Iowa - collaborated with a researcher to obtain half a grape, a piece of apple, a peanut, or some Cheerios.
A second individual placed the food beneath one of three cups, after which, upon discovering it, the researcher would hand the item over to the bonobo across from them.
However, sometimes the researcher did not know where the tasty treat was, because they had a large cardboard barrier in front of them.
The apes were able to tell when the researcher hadn’t witnessed the cup being placed over the food.
However, it requires a significant display of intellect to grasp that this indicates the researcher was unaware in their mind about the location of the food.
It was evident that the apes had 'read his mind' because of the additional efforts they put into helping him locate the food after he hadn’t witnessed where it was concealed.
When the researcher wasn’t aware of which cup held the food, they were 29 percent more inclined to indicate the correct cup. In this scenario, their response time was approximately 1.5 seconds quicker compared to when the researcher had knowledge of its location.
Dr. Chris KrupenYE, who co-authored the study and serves as an associate professor of psychological and brain sciences at Johns Hopkins University, stated, "Recognizing areas where others lack information is fundamental to our advanced social interactions. It plays a crucial role in how we collaborate, converse, and plan strategies collectively."
‘Because this so-called theory of mind supports many of the capacities that make humans unique, like teaching and language, many believe it is absent from animals.
'However, this research highlights the profound cognitive bases that both humans and other primates possess, indicating that these capabilities originated millions of years ago in our shared predecessors.'
Earlier, chimpanzees were believed to understand the mental state of others as they produce more warning calls regarding a nearby snake when directed at chimps that haven't noticed it yet.
However, some experts remained doubtful, as the chimpanzees might have screamed out of fear instead of to warn others.
The research demonstrated that apes were capable of retaining two concurrent ideas: knowing where certain food was concealed under a cup and recognizing someone else's lack of awareness about this fact, then conveying both pieces of information.
The research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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