The Chimp Test: Why Chimpanzees Beat Humans at Memory

What Is the Chimp Test?

The Chimp Test is a working memory challenge that puts your visuospatial memory to the ultimate test. Based on groundbreaking research from Kyoto University, this test reveals a humbling truth: on certain narrow cognitive tasks, chimpanzees can outperform adult humans.

In this test, you will see numbers appear briefly on a grid. Once they disappear, you must click the squares in ascending numerical order from memory. As you progress, more numbers appear and the display time decreases - pushing your working memory to its limits.

But this is not just a game. It is a window into fascinating questions about evolution, cognition, and what it really means to be "intelligent."

The Science Behind the Test: Ayumu and the Kyoto Experiments

The Groundbreaking 2007 Study

In 2007, researchers at the Primate Research Institute at Kyoto University published findings that challenged assumptions about human cognitive superiority. Led by Professor Tetsuro Matsuzawa, the team trained chimpanzees to recognize numerals 1 through 9 on touchscreens.

The experiment was elegantly simple:

1. Numbers appeared briefly on screen in random positions
2. The numbers were then masked by white squares
3. Participants (both chimps and humans) had to tap the squares in ascending order

The results were surprising. Young chimpanzees, particularly a male named Ayumu, consistently outperformed human adults - especially when the numbers were displayed for very short durations.

Ayumu: The Memory Champion

Ayumu became famous for his extraordinary performance. When numbers were shown for just 210 milliseconds - faster than an eye blink - Ayumu maintained roughly 80% accuracy while human participants struggled significantly.

What made Ayumu's performance remarkable was not just speed but consistency. He demonstrated what researchers describe as "eidetic-like" memory - the ability to capture and store a complete visual snapshot almost instantaneously.

This was not a fluke. Multiple young chimpanzees showed similar advantages, suggesting this ability is a genuine species difference rather than individual talent.

The Cognitive Tradeoff Hypothesis

Why would chimpanzees outperform humans on any cognitive task? The leading explanation is the cognitive tradeoff hypothesis, proposed by Professor Matsuzawa.

The Theory

As human ancestors evolved, we developed extraordinary capabilities:

• Complex language and grammar
• Abstract symbolic thinking
• Long-term planning and reasoning
• Theory of mind and social cognition

But the brain has limited resources. The hypothesis suggests that gaining these uniquely human abilities came at a cost - we may have traded away some of our raw visuospatial working memory capacity.

Chimpanzees, who did not develop language or abstract reasoning to the same degree, retained their powerful "snapshot" memory abilities. In evolutionary terms, this rapid spatial memory would be incredibly useful for:

• Quickly scanning a forest canopy for fruit locations
• Remembering where predators were spotted
• Tracking the positions of group members

Not Better or Worse - Just Different

This is not about chimps being "smarter" than humans. It is about different evolutionary paths optimizing for different cognitive strengths. Humans excel at language, planning, creativity, and abstract thought. Chimps excel at instantaneous visuospatial capture.

As Matsuzawa noted: "Nobody can imagine that chimpanzees - young chimpanzees at the age of five - have a better performance than humans in one of the cognitive tasks."

What Your Score Means

Understanding the Levels

The Chimp Test progressively increases difficulty:

Score Interpretation

• Level 4-5: Below average. You may be rushing or not using optimal strategies.
• Level 6-7: Average human performance. This is where most people plateau.
• Level 8-9: Excellent. You are matching Ayumu's typical performance.
• Level 10+: Exceptional. You have remarkable working memory.

Remember: the original experiments showed that young chimps (age 5) outperformed adult humans. So do not feel discouraged if you cannot beat Ayumu - you are in good company!

Strategies to Improve Your Score

While raw working memory capacity has limits, you can optimize your performance:

1. Create Mental Snapshots

Do not try to memorize numbers sequentially (1, then 2, then 3...). Instead, try to capture the entire pattern as a single "photograph" in your mind. This mimics how chimpanzees appear to process the information.

2. Use Spatial Chunking

Group numbers by their location: "top-left cluster," "bottom-right pair." This reduces the cognitive load from remembering 8 individual positions to remembering 3-4 groups.

3. Focus on Relative Positions

Instead of absolute screen positions, note relationships: "3 is directly below 1," "5 is between 2 and 7." This creates a connected mental map.

4. Practice Consistently

Working memory is trainable. Studies show that regular practice on working memory tasks can improve performance. Try these approaches:

• Practice daily for 10-15 minutes
• Gradually push beyond your comfort zone
• Track your progress over weeks, not days

5. Optimize Your State

Your cognitive performance varies with:

• Sleep: Get 7-9 hours. Sleep deprivation devastates working memory.
• Stress: High stress impairs memory. Take deep breaths before testing.
• Time of day: Most people perform best mid-morning.
• Caffeine: Moderate caffeine can improve alertness and focus.

Why This Test Matters

Beyond Entertainment

The Chimp Test is more than a fun challenge. It offers genuine insights:

For Education: It demonstrates that intelligence is multidimensional. Being "smart" means different things in different contexts. This challenges simplistic views of cognitive ability.

For Humility: It reminds us that humans are not universally superior to other animals. We have specific cognitive specializations - not general superiority.

For Science: The research behind this test continues to inform our understanding of memory, evolution, and brain function.

Applications in Daily Life

Strong working memory - the ability tested here - correlates with:

• Better reading comprehension
• Stronger mathematical reasoning
• More effective multitasking
• Improved learning capacity

Training your working memory through exercises like the Chimp Test may provide benefits beyond just improving your score.

The Bigger Picture: What Makes Us Human

The Chimp Test highlights a profound truth about human evolution. Our extraordinary abilities - language, art, science, philosophy - may have required cognitive tradeoffs.

We cannot memorize number positions as quickly as Ayumu. But we can write articles about him, debate the meaning of intelligence, plan missions to Mars, and compose symphonies.

Perhaps the most human response to the Chimp Test is not frustration at being outperformed, but fascination at what the comparison reveals about the diverse ways minds can work.

Further Reading

For those interested in learning more about the science behind this test:

• Inoue, S., & Matsuzawa, T. (2007). Working memory of numerals in chimpanzees. Current Biology, 17(23), R1004-R1005.
• The cognitive tradeoff hypothesis continues to be studied and debated in comparative psychology.
• Professor Matsuzawa's research at the Primate Research Institute spans decades of groundbreaking work on chimpanzee cognition.

The next time you take the Chimp Test, remember: you are not just playing a game. You are participating in one of the most fascinating cross-species comparisons in cognitive science.