Teamwork may be the key to man's advantage over other primates

New research shows that teamwork - rather than intelligence - could hold the key to man's developmental advantage over other primates.

The study found that nursery school children repeatedly beat apes and capuchins in complex puzzles because of their tendancy to co-operate and learn from each other.

The researchers, from St Andrews University, designed the experiment to represent the structure of man's uniquely evolved society.

Each increasingly complex puzzle was built upon skills learnt in previous tasks, whilst the rewards available became increasingly more desirable.

Results showed that although primates have the ability to learn from each other - as shown in their natural hunting and foraging practises - they generally chose not to.

Read the full story here:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2108793/Teamwork-brainpower-secret-ingredient-gave-Man-advantage-apes-say-researchers.html?ito=feeds-newsxml