Chimpanzees, our closest relatives, were tested on numerical tasks to see how they performed under different audience sizes. The tasks ranged from easy to difficult, involving touching numbers in the correct order on a touch screen to get a food reward. The study, conducted at Kyoto University in Japan, spanned six years and included varying audience sizes, from one to eight human observers.
Surprisingly, the chimpanzees’ performance varied depending on the task difficulty and the size of the audience. When the tasks were easier, more observers led to lower performance. However, on the most difficult task where numbers were hidden behind squares, the chimpanzees did better with larger audiences.
Researchers were amazed by this audience effect in chimpanzees, suggesting it might have evolved in the ape lineage. The study shed light on how audience presence can influence performance, even in non-human species. Further research could explore the relationship between this effect and individual chimpanzee personalities.
This study not only provides insights into chimpanzee behavior but also hints at possible connections between human and chimpanzee social dynamics.
Vocabulary List:
- Chimpanzees /ˌʧɪmˈpæn.ziːz/ (noun): A species of great ape known for its intelligence and social behavior.
- Numerical /njuːˈmɪrɪkəl/ (adjective): Relating to or expressed in numbers.
- Performance /pərˈfɔːr.məns/ (noun): The action or process of carrying out or accomplishing a task.
- Audience /ˈɔː.di.əns/ (noun): A group of people who gather to watch or listen to a performance.
- Influence /ˈɪn.flu.əns/ (verb): To have an effect on the character development or behavior of someone or something.
- Dynamics /daɪˈnæm.ɪks/ (noun): The forces that stimulate growth development or change within a system or process.
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