Ants vs. humans: experiment shows who is more effective at solving group tasks

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science conducted an experiment comparing the abilities of ants and humans in solving the task of manoeuvring a weight in a maze.

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The experiment involved ants of the Paratrechina longicornis species and humans who had to move a T-shaped object through a maze consisting of three chambers connected by narrow passageways. Ants and humans performed the task in three combinations: a single participant, a small group, and a large group. Misled ants thought they were carrying an edible cargo to their nest, while humans participated voluntarily.

The results showed that groups of ants performed better than individual ants or even humans. The ants acted cohesively and strategically, demonstrating collective memory and avoiding repeating mistakes. Humans, on the other hand, failed to improve significantly in groups and often chose short-term solutions that were not beneficial in the long term. The study highlights the importance of cooperation and collective decision-making in ants, making them more efficient at problem solving compared to humans.

Source: PNAS