Great apes make sophisticated decisions
2012-01-02
(Press-News.org) Chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas and bonobos make more sophisticated decisions than was previously thought. Great apes weigh their chances of success, based on what they know and the likelihood to succeed when guessing, according to a study of MPI researcher Daniel Haun, published on December 21 in the online journal PLoS ONE. The findings may provide insight into human decision-making as well.
The authors of the study, led by Daniel Haun of the Max Planck Institutes for Psycholinguistics (Nijmegen) and Evolutionary Anthropology (Leipzig), investigated the behaviour of all four non-human great ape species. The apes were presented with two banana pieces: a smaller one, which was always reliably in the same place, and a larger one, which was hidden under one of multiple cups, and therefore the riskier choice.
The researchers found that the apes' choices were regulated by their uncertainty and the probability of success for the risky choice, suggesting sophisticated decision-making. Apes chose the small piece more often when they where uncertain where the large piece was hidden. The lower their chances to guess correctly, the more often they chose the small piece.
Risky choices
The researchers also found that the apes went for the larger piece – and risked getting nothing at all – no less than 50% of the time. This risky decision-making increased to nearly 100% when the size difference between the two banana pieces was largest. While all four species demonstrated sophisticated decision making strategies, chimpanzees and orangutans were overall more likely to make risky choices relative to gorillas and bonobos. The precise reason for this discrepancy remains unknown.
Haun concludes: "Our study adds to the growing evidence that the mental life of the other great apes is much more sophisticated than is often assumed."
INFORMATION:
END
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
2012-01-02
TORONTO, Ont., Dec. 29, 2011 –More than two-thirds of paramedics surveyed have experienced verbal, physical or sexual abuse on the job, new research has found.
Verbal abuse by patients and their friends or relatives, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) co-workers or bystanders, was the most commonly reported, followed by intimidation and physical abuse, the study found.
"EMS providers can experience violence in the workplace as they perform their jobs in unpredictable environments and near people in crisis," said Blair Bigham, the lead investigator.
"Anecdotal reports ...
2012-01-02
Hollywood's most elaborate New Year's Eve Bash will be held at the world famous Kodak Theater Complex in the heart of Hollywood. The event boasts the Nation's largest Red Carpet New Year's Eve event filled with celebrities, live performances, DJ's and dancing as attendees will ring in the New Year high above Hollywood Boulevard as they take over the World Famous Hollywood & Highland Entertainment Complex including the Governors Ballroom where Hollywood's biggest stars party for the Oscars. Mario Lopez will host the red carpet and the countdown to 2012.
This year's ...
2012-01-02
Many animals produce alarm calls to predators, and do this more often when kin or mates are present than other audience members. So far, however, there has been no evidence that they take the other group members' knowledge state into account. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, and the University of St. Andrews, Great Britain, set up a study with wild chimpanzees in Uganda and found that chimpanzees were more likely to alarm call to a snake in the presence of unaware than in the presence of aware group members, suggesting ...
2012-01-02
On Friday, January 6, 2012, the Tilted Kilt on The Avenue in White Marsh will be the site of a special night to honor our troops and raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. Hosted by Baltimore-Networking and PurpleFridays.com, the event will kick off with a business networking happy hour from 5 to 7 PM, followed by a Ravens celebration with silent auction from 7 to 9 PM with chances for attendees to walk away with prizes such as gift certificates to Baltimore restaurants, gift baskets, and Ravens items, including a framed autographed jersey!
The Wounded Warrior ...
2012-01-02
Even the costliest oriental carpets have small mistakes. It is said that pious carpet-weavers deliberately include tiny mistakes in their fine carpets, because only God has the right to be immaculate. Molecular carpets, as the nanotechnology industry would like to have them are as yet in no danger of offending the gods. A team of physicists headed by Dr. Markus Lackinger from the Technische Universität München (TUM) und Professor Thomas Bein from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) has now developed a process by which they can build up high-quality polymer ...
2012-01-02
January 6, 2012 - February 20, 2012 - Gallery KH
Landscapes: Bring the Light
Opening cocktail reception: Friday, January 6, 2012 5-8PM
Gallery KH is pleased to present Landscapes: Bring the Light a collection of gallery artists working in bright palettes in their exploration of the landscape. Bring the Light opens January 6, 2012 through February 20, 2012. An opening night cocktail reception is scheduled for Friday, January 6, 5-8PM. All gallery events are free and open to the public.
"The interesting thing about a group show is that you get to see how each ...
2012-01-02
Foreclosure Defense Seminar II: "Mortgage Securitization & Quiet Title"
January 7th, 2012 Las Vegas, Nevada
Register Online at http://www.CertifiedForensicLoanAuditors.com
Only $595 for the 1-Day Course
Seminar Speaker: Patricia Rodriguez, Esq. - Law Offices of Patricia Rodriguez
-Member of the State Bar of California
-Admitted in Central, Northern and Eastern Federal District Courts of California
-Temple University Law School - J.D.
-Temple University Law School - Law Program in Japan
-University of Southern California (USC) - B.S. ...
2012-01-02
Glia cells, named for the Greek word for "glue," hold the brain's neurons together and protect the cells that determine our thoughts and behaviors, but scientists have long puzzled over their prominence in the activities of the brain dedicated to learning and memory. Now Tel Aviv University researchers say that glia cells are central to the brain's plasticity — how the brain adapts, learns, and stores information.
According to Ph.D. student Maurizio De Pittà of TAU's Schools of Physics and Astronomy and Electrical Engineering, glia cells do much more than hold the brain ...
2012-01-02
Taylor Morrison welcomes new staff members to its team. Valerie McChesney joins as controller in finance and accounting, Derek Andruss has accepted the position of vice president of purchasing, Janet Molthcan as sales associate at Verona Reserve in Venice and Greg "Beach" Beauchamp as sales associate at Palma Sola Trace in Bradenton.
Valerie has more than 17 years experience in finance and accounting in the home building industry and was most recently employed with a private homebuilder. She attended Southern Illinois University where she earned her Master ...
2012-01-02
Brooks Bell is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Naoshi Yamauchi to the position of Vice President of Analytics & Testing.
Previous to this promotion, Yamauchi was Brooks Bell's Director of Analytics and handled all data and analysis for Brooks Bell clients. In his new position, he will oversee all data and analytic initiatives and also focus on testing strategy for Brooks Bell clients using Adobe Test&Target.
"Naoshi is an effective leader in our company and in the industry," said Brooks Bell CEO Brooks Bell. "In his two years at ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
[Press-News.org] Great apes make sophisticated decisions
