Chimpanzees working memory better than men

Japanese researchers presented a video showing an amazing ability chimpanzee named Ayumi. On the screen appear in random order numbers from one to nine, and then quickly disappeared, and chimpanzees could not remember the exact sequence and position of each digit. Ayumi also knows the numbers from 1 to 19 and can touch each number in ascending order, identifying those who have not been previously shown to her.



The study's author Tetsuro Matsuzawa argues that the ability of such people are extremely rare - mostly people with savant syndrome, accompanied by severe mental disorders. A normal person can not do this. As for chimpanzees, similar tests were unsuccessful in six cases out of six.

Incredible working memory helps chimpanzees survive in the wild, where they often have to make quick and difficult decisions. Working memory - an active form of short-term memory, mental workspace that allows the brain to process multiple thoughts simultaneously.

Perhaps, like the ability to help navigate the chimpanzee thick branches of trees to eat, or perhaps to understand whether their competitors for other animals.

via factroom.ru