Skip to main content

Learning from others’ mistakes in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)

Animal Cognition volume 11, pages 599–609 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

We investigated whether tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) learn from others’ mistakes. We prepared three kinds of transparent containers having the same appearance: one that could be opened by the lid, one that could be opened from the bottom, and one that could be opened either way. Using each of the first two one-way-open type containers, the monkeys were trained to copy the human demonstrator’s action to open the container and obtain a piece of sweet potato contained therein. After this training, the demonstrator showed the monkeys an action that would open or fail to open the third, two-way-open type container. None of the monkeys reliably opened the container by spontaneously compensating for the demonstrator’s failure (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, the same subjects were trained to correct their own mistakes immediately after failure, before we introduced the same test as in Experiment 1. This experience did not result in subjects using the demonstrator’s failure to produce a successful action. In Experiment 3, we placed two monkeys face to face. In this situation, the second monkey was presented with the container after the first monkey failed to open it. As a result, two capuchin monkeys capitalized on the partner’s failure to correctly guide his/her behavior. Thus, the monkeys monitored not only the outcome of the others’ action, but also that action per se. This result suggests that not only humans and apes, but also monkeys may understand the meaning of others’ actions in social learning.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

References

  • Anderson JR, Kuroshima H, Kuwahata H, Fujita K (2004) Do squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) and capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) predict that looking leads to touching? Anim Cogn 7:185–192

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JR, Kuroshima H, Hattori Y, Fujita K (2005) Attention to combined attention in New World monkeys (Cebus apella, Saimiri sciureus). J Comp Psychol 119:461–464

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellagamba F, Tomasello M (1999) Re-enacting intended acts: comparing 12- and 18-month-olds Infant. Behav Dev 22:277–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bugnyar T, Huber L (1997) Push or pull: an experimental study on imitation in marmosets. Anim Behav 54:817–831

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell CA, Whiten A (2004) Testing for social learning and imitation in common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus, using an artificial fruit. Anim Cogn 7:77–85

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Call J, Tomasello M (1994) The social learning of tool use by orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). Hum Evol 9:297–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Call J, Tomasello M (1995) The use of social information in the problem-solving of orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) and human children (Homo sapiens). J Comp Psychol 109:308–320

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Call J, Carpenter M, Tomasello M (2005) Copying results and copying actions in the process of social learning: chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and human children (Homo sapiens). Anim Cogn 8:151–163

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Craighero L, Fadiga L, Rizzolatti G, Umilta C (1999) Action for perception: a motor-visual attentional effect. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 25:1673–1692

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Custance D, Whiten A, Fredman T (1999) Social learning of an artificial fruit task in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). J Comp Psychol 113:13–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dugatkin LA, Godin JGJ (1993) Female mate copying in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata): age-dependent effects. Behav Ecol 4:289–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fragaszy DM, Visalberghi E (1989) Social influences on the acquisition of tool-using behaviors in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). J Comp Psychol 103:159–170

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fragaszy DM, Visalberghi E (1990) Social processes affecting the appearance of innovative behaviors in capuchin monkeys. Folia Primatol (Basel) 54:155–165 (review)

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fragaszy D, Visalberghi E (2004) Socially biased learning in monkeys. Learn Behav 32:24–35

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fragaszy D, Izar P, Visalberghi E, Ottoni EB, de Oliveira MG (2004a) Wild capuchin monkeys (Cebus libidinosus) use anvils and stone pounding tools. Am J Primatol 64:359–366

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fragaszy DM, Visalberghi E, Fedigan LM (2004b) Complete capuchin: the biology of the genus Cebus. In: Learning together. Socially biased learning. New York, Cambridge, pp 224–259

  • Fujita K, Giersch A (2005) What perceptual rules do capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) follow in completing partly occluded figures? J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process 31:387–398

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fujita K, Kuroshima H, Masuda T (2002) Do tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) spontaneously deceive opponents? A preliminary analysis of an experimental food-competition contest between monkeys. Anim Cogn 5:19–25

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fujita K, Kuroshima H, Asai S (2003) How do tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) understand causality involved in tool use? J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process 29:233–242

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galef BG Jr, Marczinski CA, Murray KA, Whiskin EE (2001) Food stealing by young Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). J Comp Psychol 115:16–21

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallese V, Fadiga L, Fogassi L, Rizzolatti G (1996) Action recognition in the premotor cortex. Brain 119:593–609

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hare B, Tomasello M (2004) Chimpanzees are more skillful in competitive than in cooperative cognitive tasks. Anim Behav 68:571–581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hattori Y, Kuroshima H, Fujita K (2005) Cooperative problem solving by tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella): spontaneous division of labor, communication, and reciprocal altruism. J Comp Psychol 119:335–342

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horner V, Whiten A (2005) Causal knowledge and imitation/emulation switching in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and children (Homo sapiens). Anim Cogn 8:164–181

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horner V, Whiten A (2007) Learning from others’ mistakes? Limits on understanding a trap-tube task by young chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and children (Homo sapiens). J Comp Psychol 121:12–21

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horner V, Whiten A, Flynn E, de Waal FB (2006) Faithful replication of foraging techniques along cultural transmission chains by chimpanzees and children. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:13878–13873

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuroshima H, Fujita K, Fuyuki A, Masuda T (2002) Understanding of the relationship between seeing and knowing by tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Anim Cogn 5:41–48

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuroshima H, Fujita K, Adachi I, Iwata K, Fuyuki A (2003) A capuchin monkey (Cebus apella) recognizes when people do and do not know the location of food. Anim Cogn 6:283–291

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myowa-Yamakoshi M, Matsuzawa T (1999) Factors influencing imitation of manipulatory actions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). J Comp Psychol 113:128–136

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Myowa-Yamakoshi M, Matsuzawa T (2000) Imitation of intentional manipulatory actions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). J Comp Psychol 114:381–391

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meltzoff AN (1995) Understanding the intentions of others: re-enactment of intended acts by 18-month-old children. Dev Psychol 31:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ottoni EB, Mannu M (2001) Semifree-ranging tufted capuchins (Cebus apella) spontaneously use tools to crack open nuts. Int J Primatol 22:347–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ottoni EB, de Resende BD, Izar P (2005) Watching the best nutcrackers: what capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) know about others’ tool-using skills. Anim Cogn 8:215–219

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rizzolatti G, Fadiga L, Gallese V, Fogassi L (1996) Premotor cortex and the recognition of motor actions. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res 3:131–141

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stoinski TS, Whiten A (2003) Social learning by orangutans (Pongo abelii and Pongo pygmaeus) in a simulated food-processing task. J Comp Psychol 117:272–282

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sommerville JA, Woodward AL, Needham A (2005) Action experience alters 3-month-old infants’ perception of others’ actions. Cognition 96(1):B1–B11

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomasello M (1996) Do apes ape? In: Heyes CM, Galef BG Jr (eds) Social learning in animals: the roots of culture. Academic Press, New York, pp 319–346

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Vick SJ, Anderson JR (2000) Learning and limits of use of eye gaze by capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) in an object-choice task. J Comp Psychol 114:200–207

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Visalberghi E (1987) Acquisition of nat-cracking behavior by two capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Folia Primatol 49:168–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Voelkl B, Huber L (2000) True imitation in marmosets. Anim Behav 60:195–202

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Want SC, Harris PL (2001) Learning from other people’s mistakes: causal understanding in learning to use a tool. Child Dev 72:431–443

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Washburn DA, Hopkins WD, Rumbaugh DM (1990) Effects of competition on video-task performance in monkeys (Macaca mulatta). J Comp Psychol 104:115–121

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whiten A, Custance DM, G´omez JC, Teixidor P, Bard KA (1996) Imitative learning of artificial fruit processing in children (Homo sapiens) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). J Comp Psychol 110:3–14

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wohlschlager A, Haggard P, Gesierich B, Prinz W (2003a) The perceived onset time of self- and other-generated actions. Psychol Sci 14:586–591

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wohlschlager A, Engbert K, Haggard P (2003b) Intentionality as a constituting condition for the own self- and other selves. Conscious Cogn 12:708–716

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Research Fellowships of the Japan Society of the Promotion of Science (JSPS) for Young Scientists to the first author and by the JSPS Grants-in-Aide for Scientific Research Nos. 13410026 and 17300085 to the third author. We thank Dr. James R. Anderson for his editing of and many suggestive comments on the earlier versions of the manuscript. The experiments complied with the Guide for the care and use of laboratory primates, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Letters, Department of Psychology, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan

    Hika Kuroshima, Hiroko Kuwahata & Kazuo Fujita

  2. Neuroscience and Behavior Program, Psychology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602-3013, USA

    Hika Kuroshima

Authors
  1. Hika Kuroshima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hiroko Kuwahata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kazuo Fujita
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hika Kuroshima.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kuroshima, H., Kuwahata, H. & Fujita, K. Learning from others’ mistakes in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Anim Cogn 11, 599–609 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-008-0150-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-008-0150-7

Keywords

  • Tufted capuchin monkeys
  • Social intelligence
  • Social learning