Science

Hearing laughter may cause orangutans to value rewards more

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Briefings

A new study led by Daan Laméris at Indiana University Bloomington reveals that orangutans in a positive mood learn and value rewards more strongly than those in a negative mood. The research, published in 2026, was conducted by Erica Cartmill's lab and focuses on the cognitive mechanisms behind emotional states influencing animal learning. The findings suggest that positive affect enhances the retention of learned information, potentially offering insights into how emotions shape decision-making in non-human primates.

Key points

• Orangutans in a positive mood learn and value rewards more strongly than those in a negative mood.
• The study was led by Daan Laméris, a postdoctoral researcher at Indiana University Bloomington.

Context

This research provides new insights into how emotional states influence cognitive processes in non-human primates, specifically regarding reward learning and retention. It contributes to the broader understanding of behavioral psychology in animals and may inform theories on the role of emotion in learning and decision-making across species.

Limitations

The study is limited to a single species, orangutans, and does not generalize findings to other primate species or human populations. The specific conditions of the positive and negative moods used in the experiment are not detailed, and the study does not include a control group for comparison.

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