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Insightful problem solving and emulation in brown capuchin monkeys

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Abstract

We investigated problem solving abilities of capuchin monkeys via the “floating object problem,” a task in which the subject must use creative problem solving to retrieve a favored food item from the bottom of a clear tube. Some great apes have solved this problem by adding water to raise the object to a level at which it can be easily grabbed. We presented seven capuchins with the task over eight trials (four “dry” and four “wet”). None of the subjects solved the task, indicating that no capuchin demonstrated insightful problem solving under these experimental conditions. We then investigated whether capuchins would emulate a solution to the task. Seven subjects observed a human model solve the problem by pouring water from a cup into the tube, which brought the object to the top of the tube, allowing the subject to retrieve it. Subjects were then allowed to interact freely with an unfilled tube containing the object in the presence of water and objects that could be used to solve the task. While most subjects were unable to solve the task after viewing a demonstrator solve it, one subject did so, but in a unique way. Our results are consistent with some previous results in great ape species and indicate that capuchins do not spontaneously solve the floating object problem via insight.

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Funding

This study was partially funded by the National Institutes of Health (R15NS070717). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for the Advanced Study of Hominid Paleobiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Elizabeth Renner

  2. Department of Psychology, Trinity University, 1 Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX, 78212, USA

    Allison M. Abramo & Kimberley A. Phillips

  3. Department of Social Sciences, College of Coastal Georgia, Brunswick, GA, USA

    M. Karen Hambright

  4. Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Kimberley A. Phillips

Authors
  1. Elizabeth Renner
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  2. Allison M. Abramo
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  3. M. Karen Hambright
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  4. Kimberley A. Phillips
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Correspondence to Kimberley A. Phillips.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in the study involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted.

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Renner, E., Abramo, A.M., Karen Hambright, M. et al. Insightful problem solving and emulation in brown capuchin monkeys. Anim Cogn 20, 531–536 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-017-1080-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-017-1080-z

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