ArticleCommunications biology2025
Social tolerance and role model diversity increase tool use learning opportunities across chimpanzee ontogeny.
Article in Communications biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Chimpanzee culture beyond the conspicuous: Evidence for broad-scale observational social learning in wild individuals.iScience · 2026Article
- First evidence of underground extractive tool use by chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Uganda.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- One Biology and the Status of Humans.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Review
- Atypical tool and object use in wild immature chimpanzees reveals developmental pathways to innovation.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Insect applications to open wounds by chimpanzees in the wild: first insights from East African chimpanzees.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Social tolerance and role model diversity increase tool use learning opportunities across chimpanzee ontogeny.Communications biology · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
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Abstract
Social learning opportunities shape cognitive skills across species, especially in humans. Although the social environment impacts learning opportunities, the benefits of role model diversity and tolerance on task learning in tool-using species remain poorly understood. To explore these links, we study 2343 peering events (close-range observation of a conspecific) from 35 wild immature (<10 y) chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus). We find that chimpanzee peering functions to acquire information more than food, persists during development while peaking around weaning age, and increases with food processing complexity. Role models change throughout development, with increased peering at mothers during early stages and for more complex tasks. Finally, immatures observe many role models, favouring older and more tolerant individuals. We conclude that chimpanzees learn from multiple tolerant individuals, particularly when acquiring complex skills like tool use. Tolerant societies may be necessary for the acquisition and retention of the diverse tool kits rarely found in nature.
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Registered trials
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