Orangutans prefer food associated with sounds of laughter, study suggests
Apes in study more likely to choose treats linked to sound of peers having fun, suggesting emotions influence learning Orangutans base their food choices on whether others appear to be having a good time, research suggests. Scientists studying captive orangutans have found that when the great apes heard the sound of their peers laughing before they searched a bowl for a tasty treat, they valued…
Scientists have discovered that captive orangutans associate food with the sound of their peers laughing, choosing bowls containing food concealed with a substance linked to joyful sounds over those with no treat. Six orangutans at two zoos participated in the study, where researchers first taught them to search bowls for food. Each orangutan was presented with two bowls; one contained a treat beneath a harmless substance like moss or sawdust, while the other held a different substance but no food.
Before presenting the bowls, researchers played a recording of either orangutans laughing or environmental sounds, depending on the food-covering substance used. On the fifth day, both bowls contained treats, and orangutans were more likely to choose the bowl associated with the sound of laughter, with four out of six showing a clear preference.
The researchers suggest the preference may stem from the positive emotional state laughter brings, influencing the orangutans' learning process. Primatologist Dr. Adriano Lameira, not involved in the study, found the results fascinating, stating that orangutans effectively said, "I will have what they are having, please!" The findings indicate that emotional states during learning can impact memory and information value, potentially influencing human education and decision-making.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
