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A researcher tests the cognitive skills of a chimpanzee with a seemingly simple task.

Can the Chimp Get the Grape?

<div class="rich-text"><p>
	Chimps that watch how other chimps retrieve a grape from a trick box can pick up the skill. But researcher Lydia Hopper wanted to see whether chimps could learn the same skill after seeing the trick box opened by a ghostly, invisible thread.</p>
</div>

In this video short, a researcher tests the cognitive skills of a chimpanzee presented with a seemingly simple task.

<div class="rich-text">In this video short, a researcher tests the cognitive skills of a chimpanzee presented with a seemingly simple task.</div>

Nature

<div class="rich-text"><h3>
 Can the Chimp Get the Grape?
</h3>
<p>
 Posted February 19, 2008
</p>
<p>
<em>
  NARRATOR:
 </em>
 A new test of apes' copying skills is about to take place at the Keeling Center in Bastrop, Texas. Lydia Hopper knows that one chimp can learn to operate this tricked-out grape dispenser by watching another.
</p>
<p>
 Hopper wants to figure out just how much an observer needs to see to get the technique. She uses a nearly invisible line to raise the handle. The chimp is being given the mechanical answer. Does he get it?
</p>
<p>
<em>
  LYDIA HOPPER:
 </em>
 I make sure that Adonis is oriented towards the window every time I cause the T-bar to rise.
</p>
<p>
 I gave the chimpanzee over 200 demonstrations of this. The chimpanzee watched intently, it saw the grapes coming out. It was obviously very excited. It was making food grunts.
</p>
<p>
 I then give him the tools so that he can have a go at it himself. Again, just as a reminder to Adonis, I show him the grape. He's clearly interested in the grape. I put it in the device and let him have a go.
</p>
<p>
 And it did nothing. And in fact of all the chimpanzees I've given this form of demonstration to, none of them were able to solve the task, which I find astounding.
</p></div>

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