Monkeys and Children Share Geometric Understanding

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States discovered that both children and monkeys demonstrate a similar understanding of geometry. Jessica Cantlon and her team presented baboons, macaques, preschool children, members of the Tsimane indigenous group in Bolivia, and American adults with a matching game using two-dimensional geometric shapes on a touchscreen.

The study aimed to determine if geometric understanding stemmed from education or innate intuition. Researchers found that all groups, including the primates, matched shapes based on geometric similarity despite a lack of distinguishing features like color or size.

This suggests a foundational, shared cognitive architecture among primates regarding spatial reasoning. Cantlon believes understanding this pre-existing intuition can improve how geometry is taught to children, building upon inherent knowledge rather than starting from scratch.