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3mo ago

Bonobos Demonstrate Ability to Identify and Address Human Ignorance

A new study reveals that bonobos can recognize when humans lack critical information and proactively communicate to assist them.

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The study “demonstrated for the first time that apes will communicate unknown information in the name of teamwork”

Overview

  • Researchers found that bonobos can intuit when a human lacks knowledge about the location of a hidden treat and point to the correct spot to help them.
  • The study, conducted by Johns Hopkins University, provides strong evidence that apes possess a form of theory of mind, previously thought to be uniquely human.
  • Bonobos adjusted their behavior based on whether a human observer had seen the treat being hidden, pointing only when the human lacked the necessary information.
  • The findings suggest that this ability to infer and act on others' ignorance may have evolved millions of years ago in a common ancestor of humans and great apes.
  • The study highlights the cognitive sophistication of bonobos and their capacity for teamwork, with potential implications for understanding the evolution of human communication and cooperation.