NEW YORK, September 9, 2026 — Researchers at the CUNY Graduate Center and Hunter College have found that Asian elephants can suppress impulsive behaviors and adjust their actions when circumstances change—a cognitive ability that may help explain the animals' sophisticated problem-solving skills and social behavior.
The study, led by CUNY Graduate Center and Hunter College Psychology Professor Joshua Plotnik and postdoctoral researcher Sydney Hope , provides the first evidence that Asian elephants demonstrate this form of inhibitory control, an important component of decision-making and cognitive flexibility in humans and other animals. The research was published in PLOS ONE .
The findings could ultimately contribute to conservation strategies aimed at reducing conflict between elephants and people, particularly in areas of Asia where elephants and human communities increasingly share the same landscapes.
"We found that, when elephants were faced with a situation in which they needed to suppress an impulsive behavior, either the impulse to reach directly toward a food reward behind a transparent barrier or the impulse to continue using a previously effective technique, they were generally able to suppress the impulse," Hope said. "This ability may be important for elephants' social interactions or for other aspects of cognition, such as problem-solving."
Testing elephants' ability to change course
The researchers tested 16 Asian elephants at the National Elephant Institute in Thailand. The elephants were presented with a transparent box containing fruit. Although the animals could see and smell the food through small holes in the box, they learned to resist the impulse to reach directly toward the reward. Instead, they used an opening on the side of the box to access the food.
The researchers then rotated the box, changing the location of the opening. Initially, the elephants reached toward the location where the opening had previously been. But they were able to suppress that impulse and adjust their behavior, quickly learning to use the opening in its new location.
The researchers found that older elephants took longer to adapt to the change. The result could point to age-related changes in cognitive flexibility, although the researchers caution that additional research is needed to determine whether the difference reflects cognitive decline.
The study adds to growing evidence that elephants possess sophisticated cognitive abilities. Inhibitory control—the ability to suppress an automatic or previously learned response in favor of a more appropriate action—is particularly important when animals must navigate changing or unpredictable environments.
From animal cognition to conservation
For nearly two decades, Plotnik has studied elephant intelligence, personality, and social behavior in Thailand, combining experimental research with conservation efforts. His work examines not only what elephants can do, but also how their cognitive abilities and individual behavioral differences may influence interactions with people.
Research from Plotnik and his collaborators has shown that elephants can recognize themselves in mirrors , console distressed companions , coordinate actions with partners, and solve novel problems . The team has also found that elephants living near human communities tend to be more willing to take risks and explore unfamiliar situations—behaviors that could help explain why some elephants repeatedly enter agricultural areas and come into conflict with people.
Understanding how elephants respond to obstacles, make decisions, and adapt to changing circumstances may help researchers better predict their behavior in human-dominated environments.
"The more we understand about how elephants think, make decisions about risk, and adapt to human-driven environmental change, the better we can predict 'what they'll do next' and the better designed our strategies for human-elephant coexistence can be," Plotnik said.
About the CUNY Graduate Center
The CUNY Graduate Center is a leader in public graduate education devoted to enhancing the public good through pioneering research, serious learning, and reasoned debate. The Graduate Center offers ambitious students nearly 50 doctoral and master's programs of the highest caliber, taught by top faculty from throughout CUNY, the nation's largest urban public university. Through its nearly 40 centers, institutes, initiatives, and the Advanced Science Research Center, the Graduate Center influences public policy and discourse and shapes innovation.
