Monkeys have reasoning powers like primitive humans

LONDON: Monkeys may have reasoning abilities similar to primitive
humans to put themselves inanother's shoes, a new study has found.
Researchers found that intelligent animals such as apes can intuit
others' intentions, suggesting they have some theory of mind
capability.
However, only humans can reason that others may not hold their own
beliefs, 'New Scientist' reported.
Rogier Mars of the University of Oxford and colleagues scanned 36
people's brains in order to study this difference.
Using an algorithm, researchers created a map of how an area
associated with theory of mind is connected to brain regions linked to
abilities such as face recognition and interpretation.
They scanned 12 macaque brains for a similar pattern of connections.
An area involved in facial recognition had a similar pattern,
suggesting involvement in abstract thought.
Mars said that, however, doesn't necessarily mean the structures share
a function.
Theory of mind is probably a spectrum of ways of thinking, he said,
adding, humans got better at it as they evolved.
The structural differences may tell us why non-human primates lack the
ability to think about others' beliefs, Laurie Santos of Yale
University said.