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Chimpanzees adapt their exploration to key properties of the environment

Author

Listed:
  • Lou M. Haux

    (Max Planck Institute for Human Development)

  • Jan M. Engelmann

    (University of California, Berkeley)

  • Esther Herrmann

    (University of Portsmouth)

  • Ralph Hertwig

    (Max Planck Institute for Human Development)

Abstract

Exploration is an important strategy for reducing the uncertainty that pervades daily life. Yet the evolutionary roots of adaptive exploration are poorly understood. We harness and adapt the human decisions-from-experience paradigm to investigate exploration under uncertainty in chimpanzees. In our study, chimpanzees (N = 15; eight females) are simultaneously confronted with an uncertain option (with outcome variance) and a safe option (without outcome variance) and tested in both stable and changing environments. Results reveal that, as in human exploration, how and how much chimpanzees explore depends on the environment. One key environmental property is change: Chimpanzees explore more across trials in changing than in stable conditions. Consistent with the assumption of classic economic models that variance indicates risk, chimpanzees also explore more when they experience variance in the options’ outcomes. Individual risk and uncertainty preferences did not have a statistically significant effect on exploratory efforts. These findings suggest that chimpanzees and humans share key similarities in the way they respond to risk and uncertainty.

Suggested Citation

  • Lou M. Haux & Jan M. Engelmann & Esther Herrmann & Ralph Hertwig, 2025. "Chimpanzees adapt their exploration to key properties of the environment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-6, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57022-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57022-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel Bennett & Stefan Bode & Maja Brydevall & Hayley Warren & Carsten Murawski, 2016. "Intrinsic Valuation of Information in Decision Making under Uncertainty," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Eliaz, Kfir & Schotter, Andrew, 2010. "Paying for confidence: An experimental study of the demand for non-instrumental information," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 70(2), pages 304-324, November.
    3. My, Kene Boun & Brunette, Marielle & Couture, Stéphane & Van Driessche, Sarah, 2024. "Are ambiguity preferences aligned with risk preferences?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
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