Great apes plan ahead A study that may be of interest to readers interested in comparative psychology has shown that just like humans apes can plan for their future needs by using self-control and imagining future events. Mathias and Helena Osvath's research, from Lunds University cognitive Science in Sweden, is the first to provide conclusive evidence of advanced planning capacities in non-human species. Their findings are published online this week in Springer's journal, Animal Cognition.