Introduction / ラボ概要

We are tackling the mysteries of the evolution of intelligence through both cognitive research in captivity and fieldwork in natural environments with a variety of animal species. In particular, we are interested in social intelligence and our main research keywords are empathy, understanding others, cooperation, culture, and group-mindedness. Our research subjects and methods are diverse, dealing with a wide range of topics from hormones to socioecology with methodology of cognitive and behavioral experiments, drone observation, social network analyses etc. We are also working to realize a better harmoneous society between humans and non-human animals, regardless of whether they are wild, domestic, or companion animals.

さまざまな動物種を対象に、飼育下の認知研究と自然環境下のフィールドワークの両方を通して知性の進化の謎に取り組んでいます。とくに社会の中で発揮される知性である社会的知性に関心をもっており、主なキーワードは、共感・他者理解・協カ・文化・集団社会です。オキシトシンをはじめとするホルモンから社会・生態まで幅広く扱い、認知・行動実験からドローンを用いた観察や社会ネットワーク分析など、研究対象・研究手法ともに多岐にわたります。野生動物・家畜・伴侶動物を問わず、動物とヒトのよりよい共生社会の実現にむけた取り組みもおこなっています。

Research places / 主な研究場所

Kumamoto Sanctuary (chimpanzees and bonobos), African fieldsites (wild chimpanzees and bonobos), monkey parks (wild Japanese macaques), Serra d'Arga and Cape Toi (feral horses), horse ranch, India (wild elephants), zoos, free-ranging dogs, dog nursery, dog/cat owners' home, etc.

熊本サンクチュアリ（チンパンジー・ボノボ）、アフリカの野外調査地（チンパンジー・ボノボ）、モンキーパーク、ポルトガルのアルガ山や宮崎県の都井岬など（野生ウマ）、ウマ牧場・乗馬クラブなど、動物園、台湾の野良犬、イヌの幼稚園、一般家庭、など。

News / ニュース

October 2025: Article publication: Jim, H.-L., Yamamoto, S., Bansiddhi, P. & Plotnik, J. M. (2025) Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) recognise human visual attention from body and face orientation. Scientific Reports, 15, 32623. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16994-3 Press release

September 2025: JST NEWS 9月号で最近の研究を特集していただきました。https://www.jst.go.jp/pr/jst-news/backnumber/2025/202509/pdf/2025_09.pdf

June 2025: Article publication: Jardat P., Yamamoto S., Ringhofer M., Tanguy-Guillo N., Parias C., Reigner F., Calandreau L., & Lansade L. (2025) Emotional contagion of fear and joy from humans to horses using a combination of facial and vocal cues. Scientific Reports, 15, 17689. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98794-3　ウマにおけるヒトからの快・不快情動の伝染：表情と音声刺激を用いた実験研究

June 2025: Article publication: Brooks, J., Clay, Z., Dufour, V., Fedurek, P., Girard-Buttoz, C., & Yamamoto, S. (2025). Collective Acoustics in Pan: Conserved Roots in the Evolution of Human Musicality. American Journal of Primatology, 87(6), e70048. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.70048　パン属における集団音響：ヒトの音楽性の進化的基盤

June 2025: Article publication: Jim, HL., Belfiore, K., Martinelli, E.B., Martínez, M., Range, F. & Marshall-Pescini, S. (2025) Do dogs form reputations of humans? No effect of age after indirect and direct experience in a food-giving situation. Animal Cognition, 28, 51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-025-01967-w  イヌは人間に対して評判を形成するか？ Press release

June 2025: Article publication: Ogawa A. & Yamamoto S. (2025) Why is mutual grooming rare despite its function? A hypothesis for cognitive constraints. BIology Letters. 21, 6. doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2024.0669 　相互グルーミングは機能的にも関わらず動物界でなぜ稀なのか？認知的制約仮説の提唱

June 2025: Article publication: Vilela, S., Chen, P., Murakami, S., Tanabe, Y., Yamamoto, S. (2025) Self-directed behavior reflects social stress in captive Asian elephants. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12,1629664. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1629664 　飼育アジアゾウにおいて自己指向性行動は社会的ストレスを反映している

May 2025: Article publication: Kaigaishi, Y., Nakamichi, M., Yamada, K. (2025) Polyadic Grooming Patterns and Network in a Free-Ranging Group of Japanese Macaques at Awajishima. American Journal of Primatology, 87,6, e70054. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.70054 淡路島に生息する餌付けニホンザルにおいて、3頭以上で行われる「多頭毛づくろい」について詳細な定量的分析を行った

April 2025: 貝ヶ石 優 (2025) 「霊長類学における「寛容社会」とは何か？」河合 文・川添 達朗・谷口 晴香 (編)『フィールドにみえた〈社会性〉のゆらぎ 霊長類学と人類学の出会いから』,京都大学学術出版会 

March 2025: Article publication: Maeda T., Mendonça R., Pinto P., Ringhofer M., Godinho R., Hirata S., Yamamoto S. (2025) No evidence of kin preferences in a feral horse multilevel society. Animal Behaviour, 222, 123120.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123120　野生ウマの重層社会において血縁関係は重要な役割を果たさない

February 2025: Article publication: Piao Y., Brooks J., Yamamoto S. An eye-tracking study of visual attention in chimpanzees and bonobos when viewing different tool-using techniques. Animal Cognition. 28, 12 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-025-01934-5 　チンパンジーは他者の道具使用技法のどこに注目するか：アイトラッカーを用いた研究

January 2025: Article publication: Onishi E., Brooks J., Inoue S., Yamamoto S. Socially contagious urination in chimpanzees. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.11.052 Press release　チンパンジーの社会的排尿伝染 日本語プレスリリース

January 2025: Shinya Yamamoto has moved to Kyoto University Institute for the Future of Human Society (IFoHS) from Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). 山本および研究員が高等研究院から人と社会の未来研究院に異動しました。引き続き京都大学理学研究科（野生動物研究センター）の協力講座構成員として大学院生の指導もおこないます。

January 2025: Article publication: Herbrich M., Sands E., Ishizuka S., Kaigaishi Y., Yamamoto S., Sueur C. Infuence of ecological and social factors on huddling behaviour and cluster organisation in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Primates. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-024-01178-w ニホンザルのサル団子（集団凝集）形成におよぼす環境的・社会的要因

November 2024: Article publication: Sueur, C., Ishizuka, S., Kaigaishi, Y., Yamamoto, S. (2024). The Warmth of Sarudango: Modelling the Huddling Behaviour of Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata). Animals 14 (23). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14233468  サル団子の暖かさ：ニホンザルの集団凝集行動のモデリング

November 2024: Article publication (Lin et al. 2024): Lin, C., Muramatsu, A., Yamamoto, S. (2024). Audience presence influences cognitive task performance in chimpanzees. iScience 27, 11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.111191  Press release　チンパンジーは観衆を気にする？―観衆の有無で数字課題のパフォーマンスが変わる― 日本語プレスリリース

November 2024: Article publication (Kaigaishi & Yamamoto 2024 Scientific Reports): Kaigaishi, Y. & Yamamoto, S. 2024 Higher eigenvector centrality in grooming network is linked to better inhibitory control task performance but not other cognitive tasks in free-ranging Japanese macaques. Scientific Reports, 14, 26804. ニホンザルにおいて社会ネットワークの中心にいる個体は高い自己抑制能力を示す https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77912-7 日本語プレスリリース

August 2024: Article publication (Brooks et al. 2024 PLOS ONE): Brooks, J., van Heijst, K., Epping, A., Lee S. H., Niksarli, A., Pope, A.,Clay, Z., Kret, M., Taglialatela, J., & Yamamoto, S. 2024) Increased alertness and moderate ingroup cohesion in bonobos’ response to outgroup cues. PLOS ONE, 19(8), e0307975. 「平和な」ボノボでも外集団刺激が集団内の集合性を高める https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0307975

August 2024: Article publication (Nakamichi et al. 2024 Zoo Biology): Nakamichi, M., Saito, M., Kaigaishi, Y., & Onishi, K. Daytime spatial relationships in a family group of black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis at the Hiroshima City Asa Zoological Park, Japan. Zoo Biology, 43(4), 364-370. 安佐動物園におけるクロサイ家族の近接関係 https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21830 

July 2024: Article publication (Brooks et al. 2024 iScience): Oxytocin homogenizes horse group organization. iScience (17)7, 110356 (2024). オキシトシンの経鼻投与によってウマの集団性が「均質化」される　doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110356

May 2024: Article publication (Paulet et al. 2024 Primates): Deep learning for automatic facial detection and recognition in Japanese macaques: illuminating social networks. Primates 65, 265-279. 機械学習を用いたニホンザルの自動顔検出と自動個体識別、および社会ネットワーク分析への応用　 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-024-01137-5

May 2024: Article publication (Kinsman, Jim et al. 2024 Animals). Puppy Socialisation Experiences in Relation to Age and COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions in the UK and ROI. Animals, 14(10), 1471. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14101471

April 2024: Article publication (Hattori et al. 2024 Scientific Reports): Exogenous oxytocin increases gaze to humans in male cats. Sci Rep 14, 8953 (2024).　外因性オキシトシンはオスネコのヒトへの視線を増加させる https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-59161-w   日本語解説

September 2023: Article publication (Kaigaishi & Yamamoto 2023 Primates): A report of stillbirth and subsequent maternal cannibalism observed in a free-ranging group of Japanese macaques at Awajishima, Japan
餌付けニホンザル集団における、経産メスによる初めての母子共食い事例の報告
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-023-01091-8

August 2023: Article publication (ManyDogs Project, ... Jim et al. 2023 Animal Behavior and Cognition): ManyDogs 1: A Multi-Lab Replication Study of Dogs’ Pointing Comprehension https://doi.org/10.26451/abc.10.03.03.2023

July 2023: Article publication (Maeda & Yamamoto 2023 Animals): Drone Observation for the quantitative study of complex multilevel societies

2003年7月: 論文発表 (Maeda & Yamamoto 2023 Animals): 動物の複雑な社会をドローンを用いて研究する手法について、最新手法も含めて紹介する総説

July 2023: Article publication (Mendonca et al. 2023 Journal of Zoology): Examining the effect of sociodemographic factors on feral horses’ social networks

2023年7月: 論文発表 (Mendonca et al. 2023 Journal of Zoology): アルガ山の野生ウマの人口動態および社会ネットワークと、それにおよぼす人的影響の評価

June 2023: Article publication (Joyce et al. 2023 Primates): No food left behind: foraging route choices among free-ranging Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in a multi-destination array at the Awajishima Monkey Center, Japan
餌付けニホンザルにおいて、食物獲得戦略の個体差をフィールド実験によって検証した
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-023-01070-z

2023年2月: 論文発表 (Muramatsu & Matsuzawa. 2023 Animals): チンパンジーにおけるタッチモニタ課題を用いた1から19の数系列学習：2桁のアラビア数字の処理

February 2023: Article publication (Muramatsu & Matsuzawa. 2023 Animals): Sequence Order in the Range 1 to 19 by Chimpanzees on a Touchscreen Task: Processing Two-Digit Arabic Numerals 

December 2022: Article publication (Hattori et al. 2022 Animals): Changes in Cat Facial Morphology Are Related to Interaction with Humans

October 2022: Article publication (Lee & Yamamoto. 2022 New Ideas in Psychology): The evolution of prestige: Perspectives and hypotheses from comparative studies

October 2022: Article publication (Brooks et al. 2022 American Journal of Primatology): Testing the effect of oxytocin on social grooming in bonobos

October 2022: Article publication (Brooks & Yamamoto 2022 Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences): The evolution of group-mindedness: comparative research on top-down and bottom-up group cooperation in bonobos and chimpanzees

2022年6月: 論文発表 (Martin, Muramatsu, and Matsuzawa 2022 Animals): 動物園で暮らす霊長類を対象としたポータブル式タッチモニタ装置とソフトウェアの開発・導入

June 2022: Article publication (Martin, Muramatsu, and Matsuzawa 2022 Animals): Apex and ApeTouch: Development of a portable touchscreen system and software for primates at zoos

June 2022: Article publication (Mendonca et al. 2022 Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution): Population characteristics of feral horses impacted by anthropogenic factors and their management implications.

May 2022: Article publication (Pokharel, Sharma and Sukumar 2022 Royal Society Open Science): Viewing the rare through public lenses: insights into dead calf carrying and other thanatological responses in Asian elephants using YouTube videos.

May 2022: Article publication (Brooks et al. 2022 Hormones and Behavior): Oxytocin promotes species-relevant outgroup attention in bonobos and chimpanzees.

Dec 2021: Article publication (Yamamoto 2021 Psychologia): ‘Unwilling’ versus ‘unable’: Understanding chimpanzees’ restrictions in cognition and motivation. 

2021年12月: 論文発表 (Yamamoto 2021 Psychologia): 「できる」のに「しない」チンパンジー

Aug 2021: Article publication (Ringhofer et al. 2021 Scientific Reports): Horses with sustained attention follow the pointing of a human who knows where food is hidden. 

2021年8月: 論文発表 (Ringhofer et al. 2021 Scientific Reports): ヒトに注意を向けるウマは、ヒトの知識状態に応じた指差しを理解する

Jan 2021: Press release on publication (Brooks et al. 2021 PLoS One): Uniting against a common enemy: Perceived outgroup threat elicits ingroup cohesion in chimpanzees (https://www.wrc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/publications/JamesBrooks/Brooks2021-plos.html)

2021年1月：論文公表プレスリリース (Brooks et al. 2021 PLoS One): チンパンジーは外集団の脅威に対して仲間の結束を高めることを解明 －戦争と協力の共進化の可能性－ (https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/research-news/2021-02-25-0)

Jan 2021: Press release on publication (Maeda et al. 2021 Scientific Reports): Aerial drone observations identified a multilevel society in feral horses (https://www.wrc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/publications/TamaoMaeda/Maeda2021-sr.html)

2021年1月：論文公表プレスリリース (Maeda et al. 2021 Scientific Reports): 野生化したウマの重層社会をドローンからの観察により解明 (https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/research-news/2021-01-18)

Previous News / 古いニュース