A groundbreaking study in Nature Neuroscience has uncovered that monkeys, similar to humans, can participate in intricate deliberation and decision-making processes. This discovery puts in dispute the longstanding notion that only humans possess the capacity for slow and thoughtful deliberation, paving the way for a new perspective on the cognitive abilities of other animals.
The study was done on Rhesus Macaque Monkeys - Image Credit: Blueton via Shutterstock / HDR tune by Universal-Sci
The study (published in nature neuroscience) builds on the pioneering work of Nobel Prize laureate Daniel Kahneman, who developed the dual-process theory of human cognition in his book, "Thinking Fast and Slow." According to this theory, humans possess two distinct systems of thinking: a fast, automatic mode, which is nearly instantaneous and requires little effort; and a slower, conscious mode, characterized by logical reasoning and requiring more mental effort. Slow, effortful thinking is responsible for higher-level cognitive tasks such as writing music, formulating scientific hypotheses, and balancing checkbooks.
The esearchers investigated whether monkeys are capable of the same complexity of thought as humans. They presented macaque monkeys with combinatorial optimization problems, known as the "knapsack task," in which the animals were rewarded based on the value of their submitted solutions. The outcomes revealed that monkeys applied complex mathematical reasoning and leveraged efficient computational algorithms to solve intricate problems, highlighting that they, too, have the capability to engage in deliberate, effortful thinking.
Fascinating is that the researchers found that the monkeys' performance and the pace of their deliberation were influenced by the complexity of the task at hand. When faced with more complex problems, the animals took longer to deliberate, similar to human decision-making processes. Additionally, the solutions reached by the monkeys closely resembled those produced by effective computer algorithms, which were specifically created to address the optimization problem.
Author William Stauffer, Ph.D., neurobiologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, highlighted the importance of these findings, arguing that they reveal monkeys possess a sophisticated mental state enabling them to partake in intelligent thinking.
The study's outcomes will contribute to continued debates surrounding dual-process theories of the mind, thought structures, and the neurobiological underpinnings of intuition and reasoning. Additionally, this research could expand our knowledge of the cognitive capacities of various animal species and illuminate the evolutionary progression of intricate thought processes.
If you are interested in a more detailed look at the study, be sure to check out the paper published in the peer-reviewed science journal nature neuroscience, listed below this article.
Sources and further reading:
Computational complexity drives sustained deliberation (nature neuroscience)
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