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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

A Method to Study Adaptation to Left-Right Reversed Audition
Published on: October 29, 2018
Influence of sound specificity and familiarity on Japanese macaques' (Macaca fuscata) auditory laterality
Alban Lemasson1, Hiroki Koda, Akemi Kato
1Ethologie animale et humaine, UMR 6552 - C.N.R.S., Université de Rennes 1, France. alban.lemasson@univ-rennes1.fr
Abstract:
Despite attempts to generalise the left hemisphere-speech association of humans to animal communication, the debate remains open. More studies on primates are needed to explore the potential effects of sound specificity and familiarity. Familiar and non-familiar nonhuman primate contact calls, bird calls and non-biological sounds were broadcast to Japanese macaques. Macaques turned their heads preferentially towards the left (right hemisphere) when hearing conspecific or familiar primates supporting hemispheric specialisation. Our results support the role of experience in brain organisation and the importance of social factors to understand laterality evolution.
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