Speaker
Description
Curiosity plays a critical role in primate cognition, yet its mechanisms remain underexplored. Most research has focused on responses to novel stimuli, often overlooking curiosity toward familiar objects and the potential for social influences on curiosity. This study examined both novelty-driven and socially contagious curiosity in 22 captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at two zoos, Leintalzoo, Germany (N = 12) and Walterzoo, Switzerland (N = 10). In an object exploration task, chimpanzees were presented with familiar and novel objects independently and simultaneously. Contrary to expectations of a novelty bias, linear mixed models (α = .05) revealed no significant effect of stimulus type on exploration duration in either condition (independent: p = .207; simultaneous: p = .067). There were group differences as chimpanzees at Walterzoo explored both types of objects similarly, while chimpanzees at Leintalzoo showed more varied responses. In a social contagious task, observer chimpanzees watched a conspecific demonstrator express emotion-laden curiosity (frustration, surprise) toward a concealed object inside a colored box. When later given access to two boxes, one matching the demonstrator's and one different, observers at Leintalzoo preferentially explored the matching box (p = .042), suggesting emotional cues may trigger social contagion of curiosity. This effect was not observed at Walterzoo. These findings suggest that curiosity in chimpanzees is not strictly novelty-driven and may be shaped by social context and group-specific dynamics. This study highlights the importance of exploring both individual and social pathways of curiosity to better understand its role in social learning and cultural transmission in primates.
