# Monkeys show surprising aptitude for geometry New research reveals monkeys process geometric concepts similarly to humans. - **Source:** [Popular Science](https://brifing.si/source/cc3d313a-759c-4802-b881-fc8585f35ef9) - **Published:** 2026-07-20 - **Topic:** [Data & AI](https://brifing.si/c/data-ai) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/df139820-e234-4a17-a9c2-c3fb6acacc89 ## Geometric understanding in primates A new study demonstrates unexpected geometric abilities in monkeys. Olive baboons and Rhesus macaques successfully recognized and matched complex geometric shapes in touchscreen tests, challenging previous assumptions about primate cognition. ## Human-monkey comparison Researchers found striking similarities when administering the same geometry tests to monkeys, children, and adults from diverse cultures. The results suggest geometric intuition may be a fundamental feature of the primate mind. ## Experimental setup In the study, monkeys earned fruit rewards by matching geometric shapes on touchscreens. The task's difficulty stemmed from shapes lacking distinct differences in size, color, or form, requiring abstract geometric reasoning. ## Eliminating cultural factors Inclusion of Bolivia's Tsimane' people helped isolate innate geometric ability from cultural education. Their performance supported the theory that geometric understanding is an inherent cognitive trait rather than learned. ## Evolutionary origins 70,000-year-old cave engravings and mammoth tusk markings show early geometric understanding in human evolution. The new study suggests these abilities trace back to our primate ancestors. ## Cognitive science implications The research sheds light on evolutionary foundations of mathematical abilities. Monkeys' geometric performance opens new windows for understanding the origins of human cognition and abstract thinking. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.popsci.com/science/monkeys-understand-geometry/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._