Summary: In a massive collaborative effort, researchers have released EVApeCognition, the largest and most comprehensive open-access dataset of great ape cognition ever compiled. The resource aggregates 262 experimental datasets from 150 different publications spanning nearly two decades.<\/p>\n
By providing an unprecedented look at how our closest living relatives think, learn, and solve problems, this \u201cApe Atlas\u201d offers a new lens through which to view the evolutionary blueprint of human intelligence.<\/p>\n
Key Facts<\/p>\n
World\u2019s Largest Dataset: EVApeCognition is now the largest open-access repository of great ape cognition, aggregating 262 datasets from 150 publications spanning 18 years.Massive Collaboration: Nearly 100 institutions standardized data from over 80 individual apes, solving the historical problem of small, disconnected sample sizes in primate research.Evolutionary Blueprint: By tracking apes from 2001 to 2020, the resource allows scientists to map the long-term development of mental abilities like problem-solving and memory.Open Science: The data is hosted on GitHub and was published in Nature (April 2026), specifically designed to help researchers unlock the origins of human intelligence.<\/p>\n
Source: University of Sterling<\/p>\n
A pioneering project led by researchers from the University of Stirling and the Max Planck Institute has opened the door for new insights into the evolutionary origins of human intelligence, by compiling the largest dataset of great ape cognition available globally.<\/p>\n
Studying great ape cognition, how the animals think, learn, and understand the world, is crucial for understanding the foundations of human cognitive abilities. However, work is often hindered by small sample sizes and restricted access to data.<\/p>\n
Researchers at almost 100 institutions supported the creation of the\u00a0Max Planck Institute-funded\u00a0EVApeCognition Dataset\u00a0\u2013 with hopes high that the resource could enhance scientific understanding of how human intelligence has evolved.<\/p>\n
Psychologist Dr Alejandro Sanchez-Amaro from the University of Stirling\u2019s\u00a0Faculty of Natural Sciences\u00a0led efforts to develop the open-access dataset, which is the largest and most comprehensive collection of experimental studies of great apes\u2019 cognition and behaviour available globally \u2013 bringing together 262 experimental datasets from 150 publications.<\/p>\n
Dr Sanchez-Amaro explained: \u201cIn our field, ape participation per study is usually low. Most studies therefore focus on specific questions and tend to produce relatively small datasets.<\/p>\n
\u201cCompiling an open-access dataset involving over 80 different great apes participating in over 150 studies over an extended period of time is quite unique in comparative psychology.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe expect this dataset to be used for both research and educational purposes in psychology, biology and disciplines related to human evolution. A testament to the uniqueness and value of our dataset is the collaboration of over 100 co-authors who contributed their data and helped us standardise it for future use.\u201d<\/p>\n
As members of the Hominidae family, humans share a recent evolutionary history with other great apes. Chimpanzees and bonobos are our closest living relatives, having diverged from a common ancestor with humans around six million years ago.<\/p>\n
The new resource brings together data from studies published between 2001 and 2020 at the Wolfgang K\u00f6hler Primate Research Centre \u2013 enabling researchers to examine how great apes\u2019 thinking develops, how their mental abilities are organised, and how they differ from one individual to another, on an unprecedented scale.<\/p>\n
The release of the dataset coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Centre, which was established by the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology and Leipzig Zoo.<\/p>\n
Principal Investigator, Dr Daniel Haun, director at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, said: \u201cFor science, the dataset\u2019s significance lies in its scale, accessibility, and continuity.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy bringing together numerous small-scale studies to create a standardised resource, EVApeCognition lays the groundwork for answering broader questions about cognition that were previously challenging to address. It also strengthens comparative research into the evolutionary roots of human intelligence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Data was gathered, standardised and subject to a rigorous internal review before being published, with hopes high that it will inspire other institutions to adopt similar practices to help build a stronger collective understanding.<\/p>\n
Dr Sanchez-Amaro added: \u201cWe hope that teachers and lecturers can use our dataset for a range of projects within the natural sciences.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis resource will also allow researchers to track long\u2011term patterns and explore developmental questions that are impossible to answer with single studies.\u201d<\/p>\n
The manuscript\u00a0EVApeCognition: An 18-year dataset of great ape cognition\u00a0is published in Nature, with a\u00a0dedicated GitHub repository<\/a>\u00a0also launched containing the data. The project was funded by the Max Planck Institute.<\/p>\n Key Questions Answered:Q: Why does studying a chimpanzee help us understand human brains?<\/p>\n A: We share about 99% of our DNA with chimps and bonobos. By finding the \u201climit\u201d of their cognitive abilities, we can identify exactly which mental skills are uniquely human, and when those skills likely emerged in our evolutionary history.<\/p>\n Q: Is this just a big spreadsheet, or can it be used for AI?<\/p>\n A: It is a massive, standardized database. Computer scientists are already looking at using this data to train \u201cbiologically inspired\u201d AI models that mimic how primates, rather than just computers, learn to solve puzzles and navigate social groups.<\/p>\n Q: Can anyone access this data?<\/p>\n A: Yes! It is completely open-access on GitHub. While it\u2019s designed for researchers and educators, anyone with an interest in primatology can dive into 20 years of cognitive experiments.<\/p>\n Editorial Notes:This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor.Journal paper reviewed in full.Additional context added by our staff.About this cognition and evolution research news<\/p>\n Author:\u00a0Fraser Clarke<\/a>
Source:\u00a0University of Stirling<\/a>
Contact:\u00a0Fraser Clarke \u2013 University of Stirling
Image:\u00a0The image is credited to Neuroscience News<\/p>\n