Written By Tanisha Zahra
1.1 Introduction
There are fascinating similarities and surprising distinctions between humans and monkeys when it involves cognitive processes and problem-solving techniques. Recent research has revealed exceptional problem-solving ability among monkeys, but humans frequently display their sophisticated cognitive prowess. This is demonstrated in studies like “The Floating Object Problem,” in which monkeys used water to retrieve coveted objects. The ability of monkeys to learn is very astounding, as shown by their ability to observe human behaviour. The different variations that emerge as we dive into the fields of collaboration and cultural learning reveal the particular social dynamics that impact cognitive evolution. This research paper explores these fascinating aspects, tracing their cognitive development and revealing the subtle differences that make each species unique in its own right.
2.1 Problem Solving: The Floating Object Experiment
While humans are capable of solving more advanced complexities, monkeys also possess problem solving capabilities as proven by a study done on various types of monkeys. This test was called ‘The Floating Object Problem’ where a favoured food item was put at the bottom of a clear test tube, and monkeys were tasked to retrieve the object from the tube. Despite some failing, others managed to succeed by pouring water into the test tube and grab the desired food item.1
Fig.1 An experiment where a monkey engaged in a problem solving activity on a monitor and displayed more cognitive flexibility than a human (Credit: Julia Watzek/Twitter)2
2.2 Learning & Cognitive Evolution
Not only did the monkeys show problem solving in the aforementioned case, but they also proved their learning abilities. Though some of the monkeys were unable to showcase their problem solving skills by not retrieving the food item, one was able to utilise its learning skills as after observing humans carry out the same task, it mirrored and succeeded in the task as well.1 "Like humans, monkeys benefit enormously from being actively involved in learning instead of having information presented to them passively," quoted Nate Kornell, a UCLA postdoctoral scholar in psychology and lead author of the study, which appears in the August issue of the journal Psychological Science. "The advantage of active learning appears to be a fundamental property of memory in humans and nonhumans alike."
In Kornell's study which he conducted when he was a psychology graduate student at Columbia University, two rhesus macaque monkeys were taught to place five photographs in a specific order. Those photographs were displayed on a touch-screen monitor. When a monkey managed to press a correct photograph, a border appeared around it. When the monkey pressed all five photographs in the correct order, it would earn a food reward. The chance of guessing all five correctly is less than one percent; yet, all monkeys were able to order a minimum of 18 pictures correctly.2
Fig. 2 A rhesus monkey chooses between images on a touch-screen computer monitor. In a new study, they were asked to select five photographs in a particular order (Credit: UCLA)3
3.1 Collaboration: Strength in numbers?
As we discussed, monkeys display similarities to humans in the aspects of learning and solo problem solving, but where exactly do they cognitively differ? Humans swear by the phrase ‘Strength in numbers’, but monkeys don’t. In a case study where the communication and team work skills were tested in human infants and juvenile monkeys, the ability to collaborate was evident in the human infants, and not so much in the juvenile monkeys. Both groups were engaged in a collaborative activity accompanied by a human adult. When the human adult stopped being involved, the human infants immediately understood the nature of the activity and that they were supposed to work together, and did so by using hand symbols and other linguistic conveniences. On the other hand, the monkey juveniles began working independently.4
Fig. 3 Human infants collaborating in the study 7
3.2 Cultural Learning
Monkeys do transmit some behaviours across their generations,4 however, this generational learning is fundamental for humans such as social practices, symbolic artefacts within cultural groups etc. The mountains of research done on social and cultural learning in humans shows that children understand and are able to reproduce generational behaviour. In fact, they subconsciously fully trust adults to be the basis of their social and cognitive evolution which is why human adults intentionally teach their kids not only educationally, but also socially.5 For example, in a study, a 3 year old child was shown a puppet playing a game in the manner of which he wasn’t taught; the ‘wrong’ way according to the child. As a result, the child showed signs of objection.6 However, teaching for monkeys is not at all an important aspect in their lives. The only teaching occurring in the life of a monkey is one that it inflicts on itself, which speaks volumes to the social disparity between humans and monkeys once again.7
4.1 Conclusion
The fascinating research on the problem-solving, learning, collaboration, and cultural transmission of monkeys reveals both surprising similarities and glaring disparities between humans and monkeys. Monkeys are exceptionally skilled at solving problems, picking up knowledge from their surroundings, and adapting on their own. However, the fact that monkeys lack strong collaborative traits and cultural learning highlights how peculiar human social evolution and cognitive development are. These discoveries highlight the complex interplay between nature and nurture and the diversity of specie’s cognitive systems. Further investigation could provide greater insights into the evolutionary roots of our cognitive features and the elements that contribute to our remarkable capacities for learning and collaboration as this field of study develops.
References
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5395306/
2. https://allthatsinteresting.com/monkeys-beat-humans-computer-game
3. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2007-08-monkeys-humans-psychologists.amp
4. Whiten, A., & van Schaik, C.P. (2007). The evolution of animal ‘cultures’ and social intelligence. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 362, 603–620
5. Gergely, G., & Csibra, G. (2006). Sylvia’s recipe: The role of imita- tion and pedagogy in the transmission of cultural knowledge. In N.J. Enfield, & S.C. Levinson (Eds.), Roots of human sociality: Culture, cognition and interaction (pp. 229–255). Oxford, UK: Berg Press.
6. Rakoczy, H., Warneken, F., & Tomasello, M. (2008). The sources of normativity: Young children’s awareness of the normative structure of games. Developmental Psychology, 44, 875–881.
7. https://www.eva.mpg.de/documents/Sage/Tomasello_Ape_CurrDirPsychScience_201
0_1552616.pdf
Comentários