Can Baboons Read? | National Geographic

though they are credited with being

though they are credited with being intelligent crafty and adaptable baboons

intelligent crafty and adaptable baboons

intelligent crafty and adaptable baboons have frequently found themselves in

have frequently found themselves in

have frequently found themselves in direct conflict with human beings by

direct conflict with human beings by

direct conflict with human beings by some they are considered little more

some they are considered little more

some they are considered little more than German but now researchers and

than German but now researchers and

than German but now researchers and France have concluded that baboons have

France have concluded that baboons have

France have concluded that baboons have the ability to master one of the basic

the ability to master one of the basic

the ability to master one of the basic elements of reading even though the

elements of reading even though the

elements of reading even though the baboons have no linguistic skills the

baboons have no linguistic skills the

baboons have no linguistic skills the monkeys in this study were able to learn

monkeys in this study were able to learn

monkeys in this study were able to learn how to tell the difference between

how to tell the difference between

how to tell the difference between sequences of letters making actual

sequences of letters making actual

sequences of letters making actual English words and other nonsense

English words and other nonsense

English words and other nonsense sequences of letters the baboons live in

sequences of letters the baboons live in

sequences of letters the baboons live in a large enclosure and they can enter

a large enclosure and they can enter

a large enclosure and they can enter testing booths whenever they want a

testing booths whenever they want a

testing booths whenever they want a microchip implanted in their arms allows

microchip implanted in their arms allows

microchip implanted in their arms allows the computer to identify the baboon and

the computer to identify the baboon and

the computer to identify the baboon and launch an appropriate experiment here a

launch an appropriate experiment here a

launch an appropriate experiment here a touchscreen presents the letters and a

touchscreen presents the letters and a

touchscreen presents the letters and a food dispenser delivers a reward after a

food dispenser delivers a reward after a

food dispenser delivers a reward after a correct response that is the noise you

correct response that is the noise you

correct response that is the noise you can hear this baboon is performing the

can hear this baboon is performing the

can hear this baboon is performing the experiment touching the screen to begin

experiment touching the screen to begin

experiment touching the screen to begin a test the animal touches the plus sign

a test the animal touches the plus sign

a test the animal touches the plus sign if the letters are a non word and the

if the letters are a non word and the

if the letters are a non word and the oval shape if the letters make up a word

oval shape if the letters make up a word

oval shape if the letters make up a word this baboon is making correct answers

this baboon is making correct answers

this baboon is making correct answers and gets a reward over a period of a

and gets a reward over a period of a

and gets a reward over a period of a month and a half the researchers say the

month and a half the researchers say the

month and a half the researchers say the baboons learn to tell dozens of words

baboons learn to tell dozens of words

baboons learn to tell dozens of words apart from more than 7,000 non words

apart from more than 7,000 non words

apart from more than 7,000 non words with nearly 75% accuracy the researchers

with nearly 75% accuracy the researchers

with nearly 75% accuracy the researchers in Marseille France say their findings

in Marseille France say their findings

in Marseille France say their findings challenge a long-held notion that the

challenge a long-held notion that the

challenge a long-held notion that the ability to recognize words in this way

ability to recognize words in this way

ability to recognize words in this way is fundamentally related to language

is fundamentally related to language

is fundamentally related to language they say it now appears that when humans

they say it now appears that when humans

they say it now appears that when humans read we are partly drawing on an ancient

read we are partly drawing on an ancient

read we are partly drawing on an ancient ability predating the evolution of our

ability predating the evolution of our

ability predating the evolution of our own species

own species

own species the findings are published in the April

the findings are published in the April

the findings are published in the April 13th 2012 edition of science magazine