Animals may plan ahead, studies find
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Two studies have found that at least three non-human animals may be able to plan ahead.
Bonobo chimpanzees and orangutans could choose a suitable tool for reaching a treat, carry it away and return with it to retrieve a treat hours later. It seems the apes were planning ahead for future rewards, the researchers proposed.
Scrub-jays remember which birds were watching them when they first stored their food. They then use this information to decide whether to move the goods elsewhere to avoid theft.
This could mean scrub-jays have what cognitive researchers call a "theory of mind," the scientists proposed--the ability to understand another organism's thoughts and intentions. But they cautioned that the behavior they documented doesn't necessarily require a theory of mind. Instead, it could result from specific learning patterns or predictions about future risks.
