A groundbreaking study reveals that chimpanzees can ‘catch’ yawns from an android robot, challenging our understanding of social and emotional responses in primates and opening new avenues for research into animal-artificial interactions.
A recent study has brought to light a fascinating interaction between chimpanzees and technology, demonstrating that these primates can ‘catch’ yawns from an android robot designed to mimic human facial expressions. This research, published in Nature, adds a new dimension to our understanding of contagious yawning—an enigmatic behaviour that has long been associated with social bonding, empathy, and even the regulation of physical states.
Contagious yawning is a well-documented phenomenon where one individual yawns in response to another’s yawn. Historically, this behaviour has been observed primarily in mammals and some fish, though its evolutionary origins remain a subject of debate. Typically, it is thought to stem from complex social interactions, with studies indicating that contagious yawning may emerge alongside the development of empathetic behaviours. In humans, the propensity for contagious yawning appears at around four years of age; chimpanzees show similar patterns, developing this response by the age of five, while dogs tend to catch yawns by about seven months.
The innovative aspect of the study lies in the use of an android head that simulated facial expressions, including yawning. Researchers tested 14 adult chimpanzees ranging from 10 to 33 years of age, exposing them to a series of yawns from the android alongside other neutral or non-yawning expressions. Through meticulous video analysis, they observed that eight of the chimpanzees yawned in response to the android’s yawning, with the strongest responses coming when the android’s mouth was fully open. Additionally, some chimps engaged in behaviours associated with drowsiness, such as gathering nesting materials, hinting that they interpreted the android’s yawning as a cue to rest.
The implications of these findings are significant, suggesting that the chimpanzees were not just mimicking another living being but could respond to a non-living model as well. This aspect could reflect an underexplored area of animal behaviour—one that involves the recognition and response to social cues from artificial entities.
Additional research supports the notion that emotive connections play a crucial role in yawning contagion. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlighted that gelada baboons yawn in response to close companions, reinforcing the idea that emotional proximity enhances the likelihood of contagion. Furthermore, prior investigations have shown that chimpanzees can respond to animated stimuli, indicating their capacity for empathy extends beyond living models. For instance, another study found that chimpanzees reacted more frequently to animated yawns compared to control images, demonstrating their ability to identify with non-human stimuli.
The phenomenon across various species—from humans to gelada baboons—highlights the intricate connections between social interactions and biological responses. Yet, as researchers delve deeper into these behaviours, many questions remain. What are the precise biological mechanisms underlying contagious yawning? Can future studies uncover whether other robot-generated actions elicit similar responses in animals? As this field matures, we stand on the brink of understanding more about the cognitive and emotional lives of non-human primates and their interactions with both natural and artificial environments.
Reference Map:
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/chimps-yawn-contagion-android-robot-b2764257.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.0910891106 – A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrates that gelada baboons exhibit contagious yawning, particularly among individuals with close social bonds. The research indicates that the likelihood of yawning contagion correlates with the level of grooming contact between individuals, suggesting that emotional proximity, rather than mere spatial association, best predicts yawn contagion. This finding supports the idea that contagious yawning may be linked to empathy and emotional connections in non-human primates.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2821339/ – Research published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows that chimpanzees respond to computer-animated yawns, indicating that they can empathize with and imitate animated stimuli. In the study, 24 chimpanzees were presented with three-dimensional computer-animated chimpanzees yawning or displaying control mouth movements. The chimpanzees yawned significantly more in response to the yawn animations than to the controls, implying identification with the animations and supporting the phenomenon of contagious yawning in chimpanzees.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3797813/ – A study published in PLOS ONE examines the developmental aspects of contagious yawning in chimpanzees. The research found that juvenile chimpanzees (aged 5-8 years) yawned in response to human yawns, while infants (aged 1-4 years) did not. This suggests that susceptibility to contagious yawning develops with age in chimpanzees, similar to humans and dogs, and may be linked to the development of empathy-related behaviours.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1810104/ – Research published in Biology Letters investigates contagious yawning in chimpanzees. The study found that two out of six adult female chimpanzees yawned more frequently in response to videos of other chimpanzees yawning compared to control videos. This suggests that chimpanzees may possess advanced self-awareness and empathic abilities, as contagious yawning is thought to be linked to empathy.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC24146848/ – A study published in PLOS ONE examines the effect of ontogeny and emotional closeness on yawn contagion in chimpanzees. The research found that juvenile chimpanzees yawned in response to human yawns, while infants did not. The study also found that emotional closeness with the model did not affect contagion, suggesting that the familiarity-biased social modulatory effect on yawn contagion may emerge later in development or be limited to interactions with conspecifics.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2821339/ – A study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B demonstrates that chimpanzees respond to computer-animated yawns, indicating that they can empathize with and imitate animated stimuli. In the study, 24 chimpanzees were presented with three-dimensional computer-animated chimpanzees yawning or displaying control mouth movements. The chimpanzees yawned significantly more in response to the yawn animations than to the controls, implying identification with the animations and supporting the phenomenon of contagious yawning in chimpanzees.
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Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being June 5, 2025. The study was published in *Scientific Reports* on the same date, indicating high freshness. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content has not appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([cadenaser.com](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/06/05/prueban-que-a-los-chimpances-tambien-se-les-contagia-el-bostezo-de-los-robots-y-se-ponen-a-hacer-la-cama-cadena-ser/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
No direct quotes were identified in the provided text. The content appears to be paraphrased from the original study and press release. Without direct quotes, the originality score is high.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from *The Independent*, a reputable UK news outlet. The study was published in *Scientific Reports*, a peer-reviewed journal. The press release is from the Mona Foundation, a legitimate research institution. No unverifiable entities were mentioned.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claim that chimpanzees can ‘catch’ yawns from robots is plausible and supported by the study’s findings. The study’s methodology and results are consistent with existing research on contagious yawning in chimpanzees. The tone and language are appropriate for the topic and region. No excessive or off-topic details were found.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no discrepancies or recycled content. The study’s findings are plausible and supported by existing research. The sources are reliable, and the content is original.
