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Related Concept Videos

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Inductive Reasoning

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Assessment of Social Cognition in Non-human Primates Using a Network of Computerized Automated Learning Device (ALDM) Test Systems
08:42

Assessment of Social Cognition in Non-human Primates Using a Network of Computerized Automated Learning Device (ALDM) Test Systems

Published on: May 5, 2015

Are Tonkean macaques able to make intuitive statistical inferences?

Alice Beaud1,2, Alyzé Detourbet1,2, Sébastien Ballesta1,2

  • 1Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.

Peerj
|July 6, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana) were tested on their ability to use proportions for intuitive statistical inferences. Most macaques used simpler heuristics rather than proportions, suggesting cognitive demands influence decision-making strategies.

Keywords:
Decision-makingIntuitive statisticsNon-human primatesNumerical cognitionProbabilistic inferenceProportional reasoning

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Area of Science:

  • Primate cognition
  • Behavioral ecology
  • Evolutionary psychology

Background:

  • Ecological predictions from limited data are vital for species survival.
  • Preverbal infants, great apes, and capuchins use proportions for predictions.
  • Macaque studies on proportional reasoning yield conflicting results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate Tonkean macaques' (Macaca tonkeana) capacity for proportional reasoning in intuitive statistical inferences.
  • To explore the evolutionary origins of probabilistic reasoning skills in primates.
  • To address methodological limitations in previous macaque studies.

Main Methods:

  • Ten Tonkean macaques participated in eight experimental conditions.
  • Subjects chose between two jars with varying preferred/non-preferred food ratios.
  • Items were pseudo-randomly drawn from jars to simulate probabilistic outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Individual variation in decision-making strategies was observed.
  • Few macaques utilized proportions; most employed quantity-based or other heuristics.
  • Performance varied across different experimental conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Intuitive statistical inference may be a shared primate ability.
  • High cognitive load can lead to the use of simpler heuristics in decision-making.
  • Findings contribute to understanding primate cognitive strategies in uncertain environments.