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A Laboratory Method to Measure Contagious Yawning in Rats

A Laboratory Method to Measure Contagious Yawning in Rats

Published on: June 14, 2019

Computer animations stimulate contagious yawning in chimpanzees.

Matthew W Campbell¹, J Devyn Carter, Darby Proctor

¹Living Links Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 2409 Taylor Lane, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, USA. matthew.campbell@emory.edu

Proceedings. Biological Sciences

|September 11, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Chimpanzees show contagious yawning in response to 3D animations of yawning chimpanzees. This suggests that non-human animals may exhibit empathy towards computer-generated stimuli, similar to humans.

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Area of Science:

Comparative Psychology
Animal Cognition
Primatology

Background:

Humans empathize with artificial stimuli like cartoons.
The capacity for empathy in non-human animals towards animations remains largely unexplored.
Animations offer controlled stimuli for studying animal behavior and cognition.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether chimpanzees exhibit empathic responses to computer-animated stimuli.
To test contagious yawning as an indicator of empathy and motor mimicry in chimpanzees.
To establish computer animations as a viable tool for exploring non-human empathy.

Main Methods:

Twenty-four chimpanzees were presented with 3D computer-animated chimpanzees.
Stimuli included animations of yawning and control mouth movements.
Yawning frequency in response to animations was recorded and compared to controls.

Main Results:

Chimpanzees yawned significantly more in response to yawn animations than control animations.
This increased yawning suggests identification with the animated conspecifics.
The findings support contagious yawning in chimpanzees and indicate an empathic response to animations.

Conclusions:

Chimpanzees demonstrate an empathic response to computer-generated animations.
Contagious yawning serves as a valid indicator of empathy in chimpanzees towards artificial stimuli.
Understanding chimpanzee-animation interaction may illuminate human empathic mechanisms.