Next stop, Planet of The
Scientists are discovering that baboons can pick up on the first steps of reading, determining four letter combos as real words or made up mumbo jumbo.
The study was done in France but the words the primates used were in English. The study shows that the baboons got an average of 75 percent of the four letter words correct, giving clues to how humans process reading at a young age.
The key to the success is that the baboons pick up on patterns. They recognize what letters normally form words (i.e. SH) and what combinations don't (i.e. FX).
The best part of the experiment for the primates? FREE FOOD!
The baboons aren't forced into the test, but they are allowed to choose when they want to perform the task instead.
Some baboons perform the test 3,000 a day! On the low end, a measly 400! HA!