Are monkeys sensitive to informativeness: An experimental study with baboons (Papio papio)

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 7; p. e0270502
• Main Authors: Reboul, Anne, Mascaro, Olivier, Claidière, Nicolas, Fagot, Joël
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 05.07.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animal cognition; Animal welfare; Automation; Baboons; Behavior; Biology and life sciences; Cognitive ability; Cognitive science; Communication; Competence and performance (Linguistics); Evaluation; Evolution; Experiments; Human communication; Linguistics; Metacognition; Papio papio; Primates; Psychological aspects; Psychology; Reinforcement; Social Sciences; Test systems; Tracking; France; Baboons; Sensory cues; Metacognition; Primates; Communications; Reaction time; Leopards; Monkeys

Informativeness (defined as reduction of uncertainty) is central in human communication. In the present study, we investigate baboons’ sensitivity to informativeness by manipulating the informativity of a cue relative to a response display and by allowing participants to anticipate their answers or...