The researchers observed macaque moms gently bouncing their young, holding their heads and trying to attract their gaze. And when the monkey moms made lip smacks, their babies often responded in kind. OK. But besides being adorable, so what? Well, for one thing, it suggests that this sort of mother-baby bonding is nothing new. In fact, it appears to go back tens of millions of years. Knowing this will help scientists better understand the origins of interpersonal communication. And knowing more about the origins may lead to greater understanding of the role that communication plays in infant development.