Macaques take turns while chattering

Japanese monkeys mimic conversational call-and-response pauses of humans

Japanese macaques

CHATTY MACAQUES  Researchers recorded vocal exchanges between wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) and found that the monkeys avoid chattering over one another; they take turns and adjust their response times much like humans do.

Noriko Katsu

When polite people talk, they take turns speaking and adjust the timing of their responses on the fly.