Chimps like dolls too! Primates reveal how social they are by playing with a robotic toy Research found primates responded to being imitated by the robot in the same way they might to humans or other chimps Scientists said basic forms of communication in chimpanzees help to promote greater bonding and lead to complex forms of social interaction It is hoped the study is the first step in discovering more about chimpanzees' social behaviour, such as how they make friends Chimpanzees have displayed their sociable natures by showing they are willing to communicate with robots and even try to play with them, researchers have claimed. Primates responded to basic movements made by a robot and offered it toys in a new experiment, which UK scientists believe demonstrates that they want to communicate and interact with other creatures on a social level. They said basic forms of communication in chimpanzees help to promote greater social bonding and lead to more complex forms of social interaction. Chimpanzees responded to basic movements made by a robot and even offered it toys in a new experiment, which UK scientists believe demonstrates that they want to communicate and interact with other creatures on a social level In the first study of its kind, Dr Marina Davila-Ross, of the University of Portsmouth, set out to examine how primates interact with robots. In the study, published in the journal Animal Cognition, the chimps reacted to small movements made by a doll robot by inviting play, offering it toys and in one case even laughing at it. They also responded to being imitated by the robot and did not appear to be put off by the primitive nature of the gestures, responding in the same way they might to humans or other chimps. The chimps reacted to small movements made by a doll robot (pictured) by inviting play, offering it toys and in one case even laughing at it Dr Davila-Ross, said the advantage of using a robot in the study was that the chimps could be observed in a controlled but interactive setting while a human researcher was able to examine the chimps' behaviour without needing to participate. This allowed the researchers to analyse the simplest forms of 'social' interactions. She said: 'It was especially fascinating to see that the chimps recognised when they were being imitated by the robot because imitation helps to promote their social bonding. They showed less active interest when they saw the robot imitate a human. Some of the chimps gave the robot toys and other objects and demonstrated an active interest in communicating. This kind of behaviour helps to promote social interactions and friendships. But there were notable differences in how the chimps behaved. Some chimps, for instance, seemed not interested in interacting with the robot and turned away as soon as they saw it,' Dr Davila-Ross said. In our other studies we have found that humans will also react to robots in ways which suggest a willingness to communicate, even though they know the robots are not real. 'It's a demonstration of the basic human desire to communicate and it appears that chimpanzees share this readiness to communicate with others,' she added. Dr Davila-Ross said: 'Humans will also react to robots in ways which suggest a willingness to communicate, even though they know the robots are not real. It's a demonstration of the basic human desire to communicate and it appears that chimpanzees share this readiness to communicate with others' The interactive robot was approximately 45cm tall and its head and limbs could move independently while chimpanzee sounds such as chimpanzee laughter were sent via a small loudspeaker in its chest area, which was covered by a dress. The chimps first observed a person interacting with the robot, which was then turned around to face the chimp while the human researcher looked away to avoid any further communication. Almost all of the 16 chimpanzees observed showed a level of active communication with the robot, such as gestures and expressions. Dr Davila-Ross said that the research paves the way for further study using robots to interact with primates in a bid to discover more about their social behaviour in a controlled setting, such as how they make friends.