Apes may possess intelligence surpassing our own and can seemingly possess the ability to intuitively understand and respond to mental states just like humans do.
The ability to comprehend what others know is a complex skill that human children typically start utilizing around the age of three.
Researchers have spent almost five decades attempting to confirm whether other animals, including chimpanzees and ravens, possess this ability, but many specialists have maintained a skeptical stance regarding the matter.
Researchers have found conclusive evidence that bonobos are capable of reading human minds and utilizing the information to communicate effectively in order to obtain a desired reward, typically food.
Collaborated with a researcher to obtain half a grape, a piece of apple, a peanut, or some Cheerios.
The food was concealed under one of three cups by a second individual, and the researcher, upon discovery, would then pass it to the bonobo seated across from them.
However, the researcher often could not see the treat because a large piece of cardboard was blocking their view.
The apes noticed when the researcher was unaware that the food was hidden under the cup.
It requires a significant level of intelligence to comprehend that the researcher had no mental awareness of the food's location.
It was evident that the apes had understood his thoughts by the extra effort they made to assist him in locating the food that was not visible to him.
They were 29 percent more likely to point to the location of the food when the researcher didn't know and took about 1.5 seconds less time to do so when he pointed.
Dr. Chris Krupenye, a senior author of the study and an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at Johns Hopkins University, stated: “The capacity to recognize gaps in one another's understanding is the foundation of our most complex social behaviors, essential to the ways we collaborate, communicate, and work strategically together.”
‘Because this so-called theory of mind supports many of the unique human capabilities, such as teaching and language, many believe it is absent in animals.’
‘This study highlights the deep mental commonalities between humans and other apes, implying that these cognitive abilities emerged millions of years ago in our shared ancestral lineage.’
It was previously believed that chimpanzees can read the minds of others because they make more alarm calls about a nearby snake to chimpanzees who haven't seen it.
However, some experts were skeptical, suggesting that the chimps may have merely vocalized in alarm rather than to warn others.
The study demonstrated that apes are capable of holding two pieces of information simultaneously in their minds - their awareness of where a food item was concealed and another person's unawareness of the location - and able to convey this knowledge.
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.
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