IMITATIVE LEARNING OF ARTIFICIAL FRUIT PROCESSING IN CHILDREN (HOMO-SAPIENS) AND CHIMPANZEES (PAN-TROGLODYTES)

Observational learning in chimpanzees and young children was investiga ted using an artificial fruit designed as an analog of natural foragin g problems faced by primates. Each of 3 principal components could be removed in 2 alternative ways, demonstration of only one of which was watched by each subject. This permitted subsequent imitation by subjec ts to be distinguished from stimulus enhancement. Children aged 2-4 ye ars evidenced imitation for 2 components, but also achieved demonstrat ed outcomes through their own techniques. Chimpanzees relied even more on their own techniques, but they did imitate elements of 1 component of the task. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental evidenc e of chimpanzee imitation in a functional task designed to simulate fo raging behavior hypothesized to be transmitted culturally in the wild.