Chimps Excel at Tough Tasks with an Audience

The presence of an audience can influence performance in various ways, a phenomenon observed not only in humans but also among our closest relatives, chimpanzees.

Researchers, led by Christen Lin at Kyoto University, engaged six chimpanzees in a series of three numerical tasks that varied in complexity. In the simplest task, the chimps were required to touch numbers ranging from 1 to 5 on a screen, arranged randomly, to receive a food reward.

The second task presented non-adjacent numbers, while the final and most challenging task involved numbers concealed behind checkered covers, demanding that the chimps recall their locations.

Over a span of six years, the chimps completed these tasks thousands of times in the presence of different audience sizes, from one to eight observers. Interestingly, performance decreased with larger audiences during easier tasks, whereas, in contrast, the chimps excelled under increased audience pressure during the most difficult task.

Shinya Yamamoto, another researcher, expressed surprise at this finding, suggesting the audience’s presence may serve as a motivating factor rather than a distraction. He noted, “This audience effect may have roots in the evolutionary history of primates, predating modern societal norms.”

Further investigation could delve into how individual personalities among chimpanzees affect their responses to audience dynamics, potentially shedding light on natural behaviors and social interactions.