Dr. Daniel Haun
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, LeipzigPhone: +49 341 3550-815
Email: haun@eva.mpg.de
Myrna Tinbergen
Press Officer
Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, NijmegenPhone: +31 24 352-1408
Fax: +31 24 352-1213
Email: myrna.tinbergen@mpi.nl
Sandra Jacob
Press and Public Relations
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, LeipzigPhone: +49 341 3550-122
Fax: +49 341 3550-119
Email: jacob@eva.mpg.de
Behavioural Biology
Great apes make sophisticated decisions
January 03, 2012
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The authors of the study, led by Daniel Haun of the Max Planck Institutes for Psycholinguistics (Nijmegen) and Evolutionary Anthropology (Leipzig), investigated the behaviour of all four non-human great ape species. The apes were presented with two banana pieces: a smaller one, which was always reliably in the same place, and a larger one, which was hidden under one of multiple cups, and therefore the riskier choice.
The researchers found that the apes’ choices were regulated by their uncertainty and the probability of success for the risky choice, suggesting sophisticated decision-making. Apes chose the small piece more often when they were uncertain where the large piece was hidden. The lower their chances to guess correctly, the more often they chose the small piece.
Risky choices
The researchers also found that the apes went for the larger piece – and risked getting nothing at all – no less than 50% of the time. This risky decision-making increased to nearly 100% when the size difference between the two banana pieces was largest. While all four species demonstrated sophisticated decision making strategies, chimpanzees and orangutans were overall more likely to make risky choices relative to gorillas and bonobos. The precise reason for this discrepancy remains unknown.
Haun concludes: "Our study adds to the growing evidence that the mental life of the other great apes is much more sophisticated than is often assumed."
