A team of researchers designed a series of experiments using virtual environments, or VEs, to study how chimpanzees navigate and solve spatial problems. The study, conducted at the Wolfgang Köhler Primate Research Centre in Germany, focused on methods that combined video game-like technology with controlled scientific testing.
Building the Virtual Environments
The researchers created 3D digital landscapes using Unity3D, a software often used in video game design. These environments mimicked natural settings, such as forests with trees, rocks, and valleys. In one task, chimpanzees started in a simple arena with two virtual food items. In a more complex task, they navigated an octagonal space divided into four valleys by ridges, requiring them to move between different zones. The VEs were displayed on a touchscreen positioned at chimpanzee eye level.
How the Chimpanzees Interacted
The apes controlled their movements by tapping or swiping the 19-inch touchscreen. Tapping a spot on the screen allowed them to “walk” toward that location, while touching the bottom corners let them turn left or right without moving forward. If they bumped into virtual obstacles like rocks, their movement stopped, mimicking real-world navigation. To collect food, they had to approach virtual fruits (e.g., apples or bananas) until the items disappeared, triggering a sound and a real fruit reward.
Training and Testing Phases
Before the main experiments, chimpanzees underwent training to learn how to use the touchscreen. They practiced navigating a basic virtual arena with food placed near their starting position. Over time, the food was moved farther away, and obstacles were added. Researchers gradually reduced help, such as guiding them to targets, until the chimps could navigate independently.
In the main tasks, the chimpanzees completed two challenges:
- Quality Preference (QP) Task: They chose between two visible food items. After collecting one, the other vanished from their field of view, requiring them to turn to find it.
- Four Valleys (FV) Task: They navigated a more complex environment with food hidden in different valleys.
Ethical Design
Participation was voluntary, and chimpanzees could leave the testing area at any time. They received real fruit rewards but were never food-deprived. The study followed guidelines from European and global zoo associations to ensure ethical treatment.
Why This Approach Matters
By using customizable virtual environments, scientists could control variables like food placement and terrain, which would be difficult in real-world field studies. The touchscreen setup allowed precise tracking of movements and decisions, offering insights into how chimpanzees learn and adapt to new challenges.
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“Chimpanzee Turning Behavior During Spatial Navigation in Virtual Environments.” Koopman et al. Animal Behavior and Cognition (2025).
Featured image credit: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0
