Testing the individual and social learning abilities of task-naive captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes sp.) in a nut-cracking task.

ABSTRACT: Nut-cracking is often cited as one of the most complex behaviours observed in wild chimpanzees. However, the cognitive mechanisms behind its acquisition are still debated. The current null hypothesis is that the form of nut-cracking behaviour relies on variants of social learning, with some researchers arguing, more precisely, that copying variants of social learning mechanisms are necessary. However, to date, very few experiments have directly investigated the potentially sufficient role of individual learning in explaining the behavioural form of nut-cracking. Despite this, the available data provides some evidence for the spontaneous acquisition of nut-cracking by chimpanzees; later group acquisition was then found to be at least facilitated by (unspecified) variants of social learning.

SUBMITTER: Neadle D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7069405 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature