Bonobos, closely related to humans, have been found to possess a unique ability – recognizing ignorance in others and communicating new information to correct it. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University conducted an experiment with three bonobos, placing them in a cooperative setting with a human partner. The test involved hiding grapes under cups, and the bonobos had to point to the correct cup when asked by their partner.
The results showed that the bonobos consistently pointed to the correct cup when their partner was unaware of its location, but remained still when they knew where it was hidden. This suggests that the bonobos can recognize gaps in others’ knowledge and communicate to fill those gaps. The researchers believe that this ability is fundamental to human cooperation, communication, and strategic collaboration.
The study’s lead author, Christopher Krupenye, explains that the bonobos had to maintain “two conflicting representations in parallel” – one reflecting reality and another not. This means that when they pointed to the grapes, they recognized a discrepancy between their own knowledge and their partner’s lack of information.
While the researchers acknowledge that it remains unclear whether the bonobos pointed to the grapes to prompt a “correct action” from their partner or simply to share information, the study provides new insights into ape cognition. The findings complement previous studies on bonobos’ ability to help strangers and share resources with others.
Source: https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2025-02-04/bonobos-recognize-the-ignorance-of-others-a-trait-once-thought-to-be-unique-to-humans.html