--- description: Researchers have discovered a memory process long thought to be practiced solely by humans in macaque monkeys. title: These Primates Can Evaluate Memory Just like Us, Study Shows image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9f2400552987bc09/6988b585cd1bbaa33c703970/macaque-humans-memory.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Science](/section/science/) ## Science Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [animals](/tag/animals/) ## animals Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # These Monkeys Evaluate Memories Just like Humans  by [Justin Worland](/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Jan 13, 2017 4:56 PM CUT  A monkey eats something inside the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary on Jan. 03, 2016 in Bali, Indonesia. A monkey eats something inside the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary on Jan. 03, 2016 in Bali, Indonesia.Isa Foltin—Getty Images  by [Justin Worland](/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Jan 13, 2017 4:56 PM CUT Researchers have discovered that [macaque monkeys](http://time.com/3803595/the-monkey-and-the-mask-reflections-on-primal-fears/?iid=sr-link1 "undefined") engage in a distinct memory process that was long thought to be practiced solely by humans. The [study](http://science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi/10.1126/science.aal0162 "undefined"), published in the journal _Science_, shows that this type of monkey can reflect on their memories and evaluate their own ability to recall them, much like humans do. Researchers gave the monkeys a memory test that required them to identify an item from memory. The animals were given an opportunity to “bet” on whether they remembered correctly, with accurate choices receiving rewards and inaccurate bets receiving a “long time out” punishment. The results showed that monkeys made high bets more often when they recalled items correctly. Researchers then analyzed the monkeys’ confidence in decision-making, and found that their patterns were consistent with those of humans. Researchers used this experiment to map the prefrontal area in the monkey’s brain used for “metamemory.” And, while humans and monkeys have obvious differences, the findings could be used to help further understanding of the human [brain](http://ideas.time.com/2013/08/16/singing-changes-your-brain/ "undefined"). ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4633314/macaque-monkeys-memory/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4633314/macaque-monkeys-memory/"},"headline":"These Monkeys Evaluate Memories Just like Humans","datePublished":"2017-01-13T16:56:59.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T02:42:23.170Z","description":"It's the latest research to find a connection between human and animal cognition","url":"https://time.com/4633314/macaque-monkeys-memory/","keywords":["animals","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9f2400552987bc09/6988b585cd1bbaa33c703970/macaque-humans-memory.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Justin Worland","jobTitle":"Senior Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/justin-worland/"}],"articleSection":"Science","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9f2400552987bc09/6988b585cd1bbaa33c703970/macaque-humans-memory.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"macaque humans memory","caption":"macaque humans memory","creditText":"Isa Foltin—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/science/","name":"Science"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/animals/","name":"animals"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4633314/macaque-monkeys-memory/","name":"These Monkeys Evaluate Memories Just like Humans"}}]}] ```