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Experiment Suggests Monkeys Can Do Basic Math
sciencehabit (1205606) writes "It looks like a standardized test question: Is the sum of two numbers on the left or the single number on the right larger? Rhesus macaques that have been trained to associate numerical values with symbols can get the answer right, even if they haven't passed a math class. The finding doesn't just reveal a hidden talent of the animals—it also helps show how the mammalian brain encodes the values of numbers. Previous research has shown that chimpanzees can add single-digit numbers. But scientists haven’t explained exactly how, in the human or the monkey brain, numbers are being represented or this addition is being carried out. Now, a new study (abstract) helps begin to answer those questions."
But apparently it's a skill beyond the abilities of most Democrats.
It would be nice to see what animals are capable of this kind of differentiation - although the ability of Rhesus macaques to use symbolic representations to differentiate between 'more' and 'less' appears to be significant on several levels (at least, to me).
...of the Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
We can't have scientists doing experiments like these! Think of all the minimum wage jobs workers!
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If you tell a monkey that straight line cross squiggly line parallel lines double curved line, does it understand?
Fine, but doing the Macarena well is much more profitable for a monkey.
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Of course Rhesus monkeys can do math, how could we have Rhesus positive and Rhesus negative blood types if they couldn't?
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My accounting department and midmanagement is full of 'em.
I've seen research experiments where they did more than simple math but could play simple games against human opponents and win more often than not (of course they could practice and the humans didn't get any). I've also seen them do simple sign language (arguably mimicking but they could clearly sign things they wanted). They also create and use tools.
So we are surprised they can seemingly do simple math? Really?
Now I don't figure they will be taking college algebra anytime soon, but I really am not all that surprised that they are capable of simple math.
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Let me know when one of them provides a novel proof that the square root of two is irrational.
outsourcing industry is extremely interested in this research.
Monkey neither have labour laws nor they need H1B visas...
This might be blue ocean for low cost oursourcing...
First I hear they can write Shakespeare and now math? They're more teachable than the average high school student
Did you know 80 to 90% of the moderators on slashdot wouldn't recognize a troll even if one dragged them under a bridge.
One prevailing theory on number representation—dubbed logarithmic encoding—had proposed that the brain always underestimates the value of larger numbers in a systematic and unchangeable way
But, it turned out, they did not underestimate any number systematically. They did it only when it was the smaller argument to the add() function. So, the take away is, meh, they can add single digit numbers, but can't do logarithms. Right?
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
Can count better than most Americans , though it dosnt say if the give the Americans an advantage and let them use their toes.
Even I can do basic math, and I'm a fairly stupid monkey.
"It looks like a standardized test question: Is the sum of two numbers on the left or the single number on the right larger?
It does not look like standardized test question at all. The typical standardized test question would be, "Represent these two number in the number line. Use the $latest_fad to find the total of the two numbers. Explain how you would use the number line to select to whether to be chased by hyenas or cheetahs. Or Draw a picture of a flower".
The child that writes, "I talked to my brain about the number line and the brain said the test is dumb. So I am off playing super mario cart" makes it to the Colbert Show.
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
That's the big question!
they are hairless apes, and just because you can't bend space and time like a proper species doesn't mean you can only do basic maths!
We have livestock working dogs. They do guarding and herding as well as other jobs on our farm. They do math. They can differentiate less, more, count, know numbers (we use numbers with them) and do simple addition.
Yes, these are not your ordinary pet dog - they're bred for intelligence and work at their jobs from a very young age so this may not be representative of all dogs. However, if our dogs can do math I'm not at all surprised monkeys can and I expect apes including chimpanzees and dolphins can probably do math too. These are social, cooperative animals and most of them are hunters which tends to develop brain hardware and skills.
It would appear then that these monkeys are smarter than the average republican!
I bet those bastards have known all along exactly how many typewriters they need to write Hamlet.
Show your dog three biscuits. Give him two. See if he goes and lays down or if he calculates the number of biscuits in your hand to be larger than zero.
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Monkeys were smarter than coders. Now this proves it.
...can do basic maths. I asked her what was three minus three, and she said nothing.
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You guys need to remove this post before you give some religious person a heart attack.
Get your filthy hands off my tax returns, you damn dirty ape!
I know many who can even code
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I used to be in math-heavy secondary school, with non-trivial math curriculum. On one of our religion lessons, priest when presented with the question "Do dogs have souls" answered clear "No". By my friend was pressing - "But when you look into dog's eyes, you can see a thinking, sensitive being there, doesn't that suggest it has something like a soul", priest desperately looking for "shut up" answer, replied "No - see, if you give the dog your math exercises, it will not manage it, so it doesn't have a mind and soul". To that, reply was short "Neither will you..."
So, according to my religion teacher, we can rename the headline to "Experiment suggests monkeys might have souls" ;)
What breeds of dog can differentiate? Can any integrate?