Bees and chimpanzees learn from each other what they cannot learn independently.
In a recent study published in Nature, researchers have shed light on the ability of animals such as bees and chimpanzees to learn from others in order to achieve skills that they would not be able to acquire on their own. This phenomenon, known as cumulative culture, is a key feature of human civilization and progress. While humans have demonstrated an unparalleled capacity for cumulative culture, other animals also exhibit forms of social learning that allow them to acquire complex skills through observation and imitation.
The study conducted by Bridges et al. focused on bumblebees (Bombus terrestris), a species with a brain size significantly smaller than that of chimpanzees. Bees were presented with a two-step puzzle box where they had to move tabs to access a sugar treat. Despite the complexity of the task, bees were able to learn the solution through social learning after being trained by knowledgeable demonstrators. This finding challenges the notion that only humans possess the ability to learn skills beyond their individual capabilities and suggests that social learning plays a crucial role in the acquisition of complex behaviors in animals.
On the other hand, van Leeuwen and colleagues investigated the social learning abilities of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in a sanctuary in Zambia. The researchers presented the chimpanzees with a multi-step task involving a vending machine-like apparatus to retrieve a reward of peanuts. Although none of the chimpanzees were able to solve the task individually, after two trained chimpanzees demonstrated the solution, 14 individuals were able to learn how to complete the task through social learning. This study suggests that chimpanzees, like humans, are capable of learning skills that exceed their individual capacities through observation and social transmission.
These findings challenge the notion of human exceptionalism and highlight the importance of social learning in the acquisition of complex skills among animals. The researchers emphasize that the ability to learn from others what cannot be learned alone is not unique to humans and may be more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously thought. By unraveling the mechanisms of social learning and its role in the development of cumulative culture, scientists can gain valuable insights into the evolutionary origins of complex behaviors and traditions in different species.
Overall, the studies on bees and chimpanzees provide compelling evidence that social learning plays a crucial role in the acquisition of skills that surpass individual capabilities. By demonstrating the ability of animals to learn from others and innovate based on social transmission, these studies open up new avenues for research on the evolution of culture and cognitive abilities across species.
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00427-8
The study conducted by Bridges et al. focused on bumblebees (Bombus terrestris), a species with a brain size significantly smaller than that of chimpanzees. Bees were presented with a two-step puzzle box where they had to move tabs to access a sugar treat. Despite the complexity of the task, bees were able to learn the solution through social learning after being trained by knowledgeable demonstrators. This finding challenges the notion that only humans possess the ability to learn skills beyond their individual capabilities and suggests that social learning plays a crucial role in the acquisition of complex behaviors in animals.
On the other hand, van Leeuwen and colleagues investigated the social learning abilities of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in a sanctuary in Zambia. The researchers presented the chimpanzees with a multi-step task involving a vending machine-like apparatus to retrieve a reward of peanuts. Although none of the chimpanzees were able to solve the task individually, after two trained chimpanzees demonstrated the solution, 14 individuals were able to learn how to complete the task through social learning. This study suggests that chimpanzees, like humans, are capable of learning skills that exceed their individual capacities through observation and social transmission.
These findings challenge the notion of human exceptionalism and highlight the importance of social learning in the acquisition of complex skills among animals. The researchers emphasize that the ability to learn from others what cannot be learned alone is not unique to humans and may be more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously thought. By unraveling the mechanisms of social learning and its role in the development of cumulative culture, scientists can gain valuable insights into the evolutionary origins of complex behaviors and traditions in different species.
Overall, the studies on bees and chimpanzees provide compelling evidence that social learning plays a crucial role in the acquisition of skills that surpass individual capabilities. By demonstrating the ability of animals to learn from others and innovate based on social transmission, these studies open up new avenues for research on the evolution of culture and cognitive abilities across species.
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00427-8
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