A study published in Biology Letters suggests that captive orangutans are more likely to select food associated with the sound of laughter. Researchers at Indiana University and partner institutions presented six orangutans with two bowls containing different food-covering materials. Before revealing the bowls, they played recordings of either orangutan laughter or neutral environmental sounds such as wind. When later given a choice between the bowls, four of the six subjects consistently selected the one linked to the laughter recording. Erica Cartmill, the study’s senior author and a professor of anthropology and cognitive science, said the findings indicate that emotional context can influence how animals form associations between stimuli and rewards. "What our work is showing is that it’s also about the state of the animal when they are learning that association," she said. Adriano Lameira, a primatologist at the University of Warwick not involved in the research, described the results as "fascinating" and noted that the apes appeared to adopt a “I will have what they are having, please!” approach to food selection. The researchers propose that laughter may put the animals in a more positive emotional state, enhancing their ability to remember and prefer associated rewards. Cartmill suggested the insights could inform educational practices, where mood might affect how effectively students process and value new information.