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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."
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.
You work in marketing?
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Your compassion is overwhelming. What is it like, not being able to feel the suffering of others? Do you think that when you pretend to care about people around you, that they believe you?
"The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?"
Jeremy Benthan
I conjecture the better question is do they taste good with a side of sauteed onions and peppers?
---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
A rising tide may lift all boats. But that does little good when the only thing you care about is that someones boat is nicer than yours.
Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
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.
LOL. under dem presidents, deficits always drop, since Johnson. OTOH, every GOP (republicans and neo-cons alike) president starting with nixon, has caused massive deficits that increase every year.
Apparently, you neo-cons/tea* are not capable of math or facts.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
Oh, they've already written it ... they're just holding out for more bananas.
Ever since monkeys started getting MBAs it hasn't been the same. Now they just want to outsource the whole Shakespeare thing.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
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" ;)