Mind-Blowing Revelation: Apes Unbelievable Memory Power Unveiled! New Study Suggests Recognition of Long-Lost Friends from Over 25 Years Past

Recent research reveals that apes exhibit a superior memory compared to certain humans. A dedicated research team conducted a study involving a group of apes, presenting them with photos of old acquaintances—some not seen for over 25 years—and observed the animals' reactions to the images.

Apes can remember friends they haven’t seen for more than 25 years, new research has revealed

Published in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study sheds light on the remarkable memory capabilities of apes. Lead author Dr. Laura Lewis, affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley, emphasized the striking similarities between the memory functions of these animals and humans.

We often perceive great apes as markedly different from us, but we have come to recognize that these animals possess cognitive mechanisms strikingly similar to our own, including memory, remarked Dr. Laura Lewis, lead author of the study.

The research team collaborated with chimpanzees and bonobos residing in three different zoos—the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, the Planckendael Zoo in Belgium, and the Kumamoto Sanctuary in Japan. Images of apes no longer present at the zoo, individuals unseen by their fellow apes for periods ranging from nine months to as long as 26 years, were collected by the researchers, including co-author Christopher Krupenye from Johns Hopkins University.

In addition to investigating the memory capabilities, the researchers sought to understand the existing relationships between current ape residents and those who had departed, exploring the potential positive or negative emotions associated with these connections. To engage the chimpanzees and bonobos in the study, the researchers extended invitations with the tempting offer of juice.

Once the apes were engaged and actively participating, they were presented with two side-by-side photographs—one featuring an ape they had encountered before and the other portraying a stranger. Employing a non-invasive eye-tracking device, the researchers monitored the apes' gaze, measuring both the direction and duration of their looks to determine if they recognized the previously encountered ape.

The noteworthy discovery was that the animals consistently focused on the familiar image for a "significantly" longer duration compared to the unfamiliar one. Additionally, the apes exhibited prolonged gazes at individuals with whom they had positive interactions in the past, according to the findings reported by SWNS.

The most intriguing revelation from the experiment unfolded when a bonobo named Louise encountered an image of her sister and nephew, individuals she hadn't seen in over 26 years. Louise consistently displayed a "strikingly robust" focus on both of them across eight separate comparisons, as reported by SWNS.

Dr. Laura Lewis explained that this finding leads researchers to conclude that the strength of memory in these animals parallels that of humans. She noted, "This pattern of social relationships shaping long-term memory in chimpanzees and bonobos is similar to what we see in humans, that our own social relationships also seem to shape our long-term memory of individuals."

Researchers determined that apes have great memories and can remember animals they haven't seen in years

Dr. Laura Lewis expanded on the findings, emphasizing, "The idea that they do remember others, and therefore they may miss these individuals, is really a powerful cognitive mechanism and something that’s been thought of as uniquely human."

Although the study doesn't definitively assert that apes experience emotions linked to missing others, it does provoke contemplation of this possibility. Dr. Lewis noted, "It raises questions about the possibility that they may have the ability to do so."

Looking ahead, Christopher Krupenye shared his hopes for future research with Fox News Digital, stating, "In the future, we hope to better understand the nature of ape memory — for example, whether seeing the faces of familiar individuals leads them to replay past social interactions in their minds." This ongoing exploration seeks to deepen our understanding of the cognitive capacities of apes, providing insights into the complexities of their memory and emotional experiences.