chimpanzee tackling a number test on a touch screen" />
Chimps at Kyoto University were tested on number tasks with and without an audience.
In one task, chimps touched numbers in order to get a reward. In a harder task, they had to remember the order of non-adjacent numbers.
When tested with 1 to 8 human observers, chimps did better on the hardest task with more people watching.
Researchers were surprised that chimps performed better in front of an audience. This “audience effect” might motivate them.
Further studies may explore how individual chimp personalities affect performance in front of an audience.
This study suggests that chimps may share some behaviors with humans when it comes to performing in front of others.
Test Your Understanding
Start Quiz
Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON
Accent
Chimpanzee/ˌtʃɪm.pænˈzi/noun
A species of great ape known for its intelligence and social behavior.
Audience/ˈɔː.di.əns/noun
The assembled spectators or listeners at an event.
Motivate/ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/verb
To provide someone with a reason for doing something.
Performance/pərˈfɔːr.məns/noun
The act of carrying out or performing a task or activity.
Explorer/ɪkˈsplɔːrər/verb
To investigate or study systematically.
Personality/ˌpɜːr.səˈnæl.ɪ.ti/noun
The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character.
How much do you know?
What were chimps tested on at Kyoto University?
How many human observers were chimps tested with?
In which task did chimps have to remember the order of non-adjacent numbers?
What surprised the researchers about the chimps’ performance in front of an audience?
What might motivate chimps according to the study?
What aspect of chimp behavior may be further explored in future studies?
Chimps were not tested in front of an audience at Kyoto University.
The study shows that the audience effect has no impact on chimp performance.
The researchers expected the chimps to perform worse in front of an audience.
Chimps at Kyoto University were only tested on physical tasks.
Further studies are likely to investigate the impact of chimp personalities on performance.
The study suggests that chimps and humans share behaviors when performing in front of others.
Chimps at Kyoto University did better on the hardest task with human observers watching.
Researchers were surprised that chimps performed better in front of an .
The "audience effect" might chimps to perform better.
Further studies may explore how individual chimp personalities affect performance in front of an .
This study suggests that chimps may share some behaviors with humans when it comes to performing in front of .
In one task, chimps touched numbers in order to get a .
This question is required
