Apes Are More Perceptive Than We Thought And Can Recognize When We Are Clueless.
For years, scientists believed that recognizing ignorance—the ability to know when someone lacks information—was a uniquely human trait. That assumption has now been shattered. A groundbreaking study from Johns Hopkins University has revealed that bonobos, one of our closest evolutionary relatives, can detect when humans don’t know something and will even attempt to help them fill in the gaps.
This revelation was made during an experiment involving three male bonobos—Nyota, Kanzi, and Teco—who worked with human partners on a task involving hidden treats. Not only did they recognize when the humans lacked key knowledge, but they actively communicated by pointing to the correct cup and responding more quickly when their human counterpart appeared to be in the dark. This discovery challenges long-held assumptions about the cognitive divide between humans and great apes, proving that intelligence and social awareness in animals run much deeper than previously imagined.
1. Bonobos Can Tell When Humans Are Clueless And Act Accordingly
In a surprising display of intelligence, bonobos in the study were able to recognize when a human experimenter was unaware of the location of a hidden treat. According to Johns Hopkins University, these apes demonstrated a keen understanding of when someone lacked knowledge and took action to correct it. This cognitive ability was once thought to be exclusive to humans, making this discovery particularly significant.
The bonobos’ behavior suggests they can track what others know—or don’t know—without verbal communication. They were more insistent and direct in pointing out the treat’s location when the human was truly unaware, showing that they grasp the difference between knowledge and ignorance. This marks a major step in understanding primate cognition and how it compares to human intelligence.
2. Apes Understand That Others Have Different Perspectives And Knowledge Levels
It turns out that apes aren’t just reacting randomly—they genuinely seem to understand that different individuals have different knowledge. As stated by El País, bonobos in the study were able to distinguish between a human who knew where the treat was and one who didn’t.
This kind of social awareness is a key component of what scientists call “theory of mind”—the ability to understand that others have thoughts, beliefs, and knowledge that may differ from one’s own. While it was once believed that only humans possessed this skill, these findings indicate that bonobos and possibly other apes may share this cognitive ability, bringing us closer to understanding how intelligence evolved.
3. Bonobos Are More Than Just Playful Animals—They Are Capable Of Sophisticated Thought
When people think of bonobos, they often imagine playful, social primates with a knack for problem-solving. However, as Bioengineer reports, this latest research suggests they possess a far greater depth of intelligence than previously assumed.
Bonobos weren’t just reacting instinctively—they were actively problem-solving and adjusting their behavior based on what their human partners did or didn’t know. This level of cognitive flexibility places them among the most intelligent non-human species and suggests that our common ancestor may have shared similar abilities.
4. Apes Communicate To Help Humans Fill Knowledge Gaps
One of the most fascinating aspects of this study is that bonobos weren’t just observing ignorance—they were trying to correct it. According to Science Daily, the bonobos deliberately pointed to the correct answer when they noticed their human partner was clueless.
This behavior implies that apes aren’t just intelligent but also willing to engage in cooperative problem-solving. They didn’t simply take advantage of the human’s ignorance—they actively worked to help. This suggests a level of social intelligence that rivals that of young human children, proving that apes are capable of remarkable social reasoning.
5. The Study Suggests That Primate Intelligence Evolved Millions Of Years Ago
The implications of this research go far beyond bonobos. Scientists now believe that the ability to recognize and respond to ignorance may have evolved millions of years ago, long before humans developed complex language and culture.
This finding changes the way we understand the evolution of intelligence. It suggests that social cognition—our ability to navigate complex social relationships and understand what others do or don’t know—may be deeply rooted in our shared evolutionary past. If bonobos, our distant relatives, possess this skill, it is likely that other great apes do as well, further narrowing the cognitive gap between humans and animals.
6. Bonobos Can Distinguish Between Honest Mistakes And Intentional Deception
One of the most surprising revelations from the study is that bonobos appear to understand when someone is genuinely ignorant versus when they are misleading others. Scientists found that these apes responded differently when a human mistakenly chose the wrong option versus when they intentionally deceived them. This suggests a deeper level of social cognition than previously assumed.
This ability is significant because it requires an animal to evaluate not just knowledge but intent. Recognizing when someone is purposefully misleading versus simply uninformed is a key component of advanced intelligence. While humans rely on language to navigate these social situations, bonobos seem to achieve similar results through observation and behavior assessment, demonstrating a level of cognitive complexity that continues to challenge our understanding of animal minds.
7. Bonobos Adjust Their Communication Based On Who They Are Interacting With
Not all communication is the same, and bonobos seem to understand this concept well. Researchers observed that these apes would change the way they signaled information depending on who they were working with. If a human was quick to understand their cues, the bonobos used subtle gestures. If the human was struggling, the apes became more insistent, even repeating their gestures more aggressively to get their point across.
This adaptive approach to communication highlights a sophisticated awareness of social interaction. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all method, bonobos modified their behavior to ensure their message was understood. This flexible and strategic method of conveying information mirrors aspects of human communication, further suggesting that apes possess an advanced understanding of social dynamics.
8. Bonobos Show Signs Of Empathy When Helping Others Understand
Beyond simply pointing out the right answer, bonobos exhibited behaviors that suggested they were invested in helping their human partners. Researchers noted that the apes seemed to react with concern or frustration when their signals were ignored or misunderstood. In some cases, they even appeared to offer reassurance once the human figured it out.
Empathy is a key marker of high intelligence, and this experiment provided evidence that bonobos experience a version of it. By showing sensitivity to their partner’s struggles and making an effort to correct misunderstandings, bonobos demonstrated a social awareness that rivals that of young children. These findings suggest that the emotional and cognitive abilities of apes are far more intertwined than previously thought.
9. The Study May Change How We Approach Animal Intelligence Tests
For decades, studies on animal intelligence have been designed based on human expectations of cognition. However, this study’s findings may require scientists to rethink how they test non-human intelligence. If bonobos can recognize ignorance and adjust their behavior accordingly, what other cognitive abilities might have been overlooked in previous studies?
Many traditional intelligence tests rely on rigid tasks that do not account for an animal’s natural communication style or social understanding. This research suggests that future studies should incorporate more flexible methods that allow apes and other animals to demonstrate their intelligence in ways that align with their own abilities rather than human-centric expectations.
10. Bonobos May Not Be The Only Apes With This Ability
While this research focused on bonobos, scientists believe that other great apes, such as chimpanzees and orangutans, may also possess this cognitive skill. Since bonobos and chimpanzees share a common ancestor, it is highly likely that both species developed the ability to recognize ignorance. Future studies may reveal similar capabilities in other primates and even in some highly intelligent non-primates.
If apes across multiple species can recognize ignorance and communicate accordingly, it would suggest that this cognitive ability evolved millions of years ago. This could mean that social intelligence is an ancient trait shared by many species rather than a recent human innovation. These findings challenge our assumptions about the exclusivity of human intelligence and force us to reconsider the broader cognitive landscape of the animal kingdom.
This study is a game-changer for primate research. It challenges long-held assumptions about intelligence, social awareness, and cooperation in the animal kingdom. As scientists continue to explore these cognitive abilities, we may discover that the line between human and animal intelligence is far blurrier than we ever imagined. Understanding how other species think and communicate not only enhances our appreciation of the natural world but also forces us to rethink what truly makes us unique.