New Study Finds This Bodily Function is Contagious Among Chimps

In a recent study by Kyoto University in Japan, researchers found that primates engage in socially contagious urination behaviors. Chimpanzees were observed to urinate around the same time throughout the study. These behaviors mimic humans’ behaviors, such as going to the bathroom in groups or having an allotted time for bathroom use. Urination can be socially contagious among humans, and scientists observed the same behavior among 20 chimpanzees over 600 hours.

The study revealed that the primates urinated simultaneously rather than randomly distributed urination. Furthermore, it showed that the closer a primate was to another urinating, the more likely it was to urinate itself. This research builds upon a number of other studies that have noted similarities between human and primate behaviors, including facial expressions, facial recognition, and social structures.