Scientists Discover Bonobos Can Engage in Make-Believe Play, Challenge Human Exceptionalism
A groundbreaking study published in the journal Science has revealed that bonobos, our closest living relatives, are capable of engaging in make-believe play much like children. Researchers at the University of St Andrews and Johns Hopkins University trained a bonobo named Kanzi to identify imaginary objects in pretend scenarios, demonstrating a level of cognitive complexity previously thought to be unique to humans.
Kanzi was first taught to point to containers filled with juice by rewarding him for doing so. The researchers then presented him with two empty transparent cups and pretended to fill them with an empty jug, asking Kanzi to indicate which cup contained juice. To their surprise, Kanzi selected the correct cup in 34 out of 50 trials, suggesting he had a deep understanding of the concept of pretend liquids.
The researchers also tested Kanzi's ability to distinguish between tangible and imaginary juice by presenting him with two cups – one containing real liquid and the other empty. In 14 out of 18 trials, Kanzi chose the cup with the real liquid, demonstrating that he could differentiate between the two.
Kanzi's most impressive feat, however, was his ability to identify the location of an imaginary grape placed in one of two transparent containers. This task required a level of cognitive flexibility and creativity, suggesting that bonobos may possess a form of imaginative thinking similar to our own.
The researchers' findings have significant implications for our understanding of human evolution and exceptionalism. By demonstrating that non-human animals can engage in make-believe play, the study challenges the notion that humans are uniquely equipped with this cognitive ability.
"We share this capacity [for making-believe] with bonobos," said Dr. Amalia Bastos, first author of the research. "So, it would have been somewhere between 6- and 9 million years ago when our common ancestor developed this ability."
The study's lead author notes that the ability to make-believe could be a fundamental aspect of animal cognition, dating back to our shared evolutionary past.
While further research is needed to confirm these findings in apes without Kanzi's unique rearing and learning environment, the study provides a rigorous experimental test that challenges human exceptionalism. As Dr. Zanna Clay from Durham University noted, "It would be more surprising if we found this ability in more distantly related species with more divergent social and cognitive abilities."
A groundbreaking study published in the journal Science has revealed that bonobos, our closest living relatives, are capable of engaging in make-believe play much like children. Researchers at the University of St Andrews and Johns Hopkins University trained a bonobo named Kanzi to identify imaginary objects in pretend scenarios, demonstrating a level of cognitive complexity previously thought to be unique to humans.
Kanzi was first taught to point to containers filled with juice by rewarding him for doing so. The researchers then presented him with two empty transparent cups and pretended to fill them with an empty jug, asking Kanzi to indicate which cup contained juice. To their surprise, Kanzi selected the correct cup in 34 out of 50 trials, suggesting he had a deep understanding of the concept of pretend liquids.
The researchers also tested Kanzi's ability to distinguish between tangible and imaginary juice by presenting him with two cups – one containing real liquid and the other empty. In 14 out of 18 trials, Kanzi chose the cup with the real liquid, demonstrating that he could differentiate between the two.
Kanzi's most impressive feat, however, was his ability to identify the location of an imaginary grape placed in one of two transparent containers. This task required a level of cognitive flexibility and creativity, suggesting that bonobos may possess a form of imaginative thinking similar to our own.
The researchers' findings have significant implications for our understanding of human evolution and exceptionalism. By demonstrating that non-human animals can engage in make-believe play, the study challenges the notion that humans are uniquely equipped with this cognitive ability.
"We share this capacity [for making-believe] with bonobos," said Dr. Amalia Bastos, first author of the research. "So, it would have been somewhere between 6- and 9 million years ago when our common ancestor developed this ability."
The study's lead author notes that the ability to make-believe could be a fundamental aspect of animal cognition, dating back to our shared evolutionary past.
While further research is needed to confirm these findings in apes without Kanzi's unique rearing and learning environment, the study provides a rigorous experimental test that challenges human exceptionalism. As Dr. Zanna Clay from Durham University noted, "It would be more surprising if we found this ability in more distantly related species with more divergent social and cognitive abilities."
I mean, I'm all for our primate cousins showing off their skills, but this is just wild! Make-believe play like kids do? That's some next-level stuff. And I gotta say, I'm loving the idea that we're not so special after all... 
Like, who needs that kinda pressure, right? But seriously, it's mind-blowing to think about how our brains work and how similar they are to those of bonobos. It just goes to show that intelligence is way more complex than we ever thought possible. I mean, Kanzi was like a mini-me or something! 
And 6-9 million years ago? That's even crazier. I guess you could say our shared history with those guys has been pretty fascinating... 
The idea that bonobos can engage in make-believe play is mind-blowing! It just goes to show that intelligence and creativity aren't exclusive to humans 
. I mean, think about it - we've all had those moments where we're pretending to be someone or something else for fun (aka our inner child comes out 
But what this study really highlights is how much we have in common with other animals, and how our understanding of human evolution needs to be revised. We're not as special as we thought, it turns out 
. But on the other hand, isn't it a bit weird that we should be surprised by this? Like, shouldn't we know that our closest living relatives are basically just us in fur suits 
At the same time, though, it's kinda cool that they have a similar cognitive flexibility to humans. Maybe we should be giving them more props for being just as clever as us? 
. It's easy to get caught up in this idea that humans are uniquely special, but what if we're just... good at making-believe? 
Was it just a way to pass the time, or was it something more?
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. I mean, we already knew that humans weren't as special as we thought they were. And even if bonobos do share some cognitive abilities with us, it's not like that means we're all just one big happy ape family or something 
. But hey, who knows? Maybe Kanzi is the start of a whole new field of study - "Bonobo Play Therapy" or something 
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about this research on bonobos! I mean, who knew they could play make-believe like humans? 
It's actually pretty mind-blowing that our closest living relatives can identify imaginary objects in pretend scenarios. Like, Kanzi was able to choose the correct cup with juice in 34 out of 50 trials - that's some serious cognitive flexibility 
, so I'm all about it! #BonoboPower #MakeBelieveMinds #CognitiveFlexibility
I mean, it's a pretty big cognitive leap for an animal... but on the other hand, maybe it's just because they've been watching too many humans play make-believe? 
Which is kinda cool, I suppose? 
The fact that Kanzi could identify imaginary objects and differentiate between tangible and imaginary juice is mind-blowing. 
I mean, who needs a superpower when you've got cognitive flexibility and creativity on your side? 
This study is definitely giving me new perspective on human evolution and exceptionalism. We're not as special as we thought, are we? 
- they're just as good at playtime, but without all the drama 
, but it's kind of mind-blowing to realize that our closest relatives are basically playing dress-up with us too 
. And who knows, maybe they're just better at it than we are 
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they're saying that bonobos might be capable of imaginative thinking 2 just like humans... this changes every thing we thought we knew about animal cognition 
. Bonobos are literally just like us, minus the whole 'we're human' part 
Another thing to think about, what's the point of having intelligent relatives like bonobos if they're just going to be as flawed as us? 
They can't even escape our evolutionary baggage completely. It's like, we shared a common ancestor that was already making mistakes... 6-9 million years ago! That's a looong time to start messing up. And now we know they're just as good at making-believe as kids are. So, yeah, great, we can all pretend and imagine things together... but what about the real world? 
i mean, scientists are always trying to figure out human evolution and all that, but what's up with these whales not dying off or something? they're like the ultimate long-term thinkers 
It's all about perspective, right? We should celebrate our shared awesomeness with the animal kingdom!