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Seeing two faces together: preference formation in humans and rhesus macaques
David Méary1, Zhihan Li, Wu Li
1Laboratoire de Psychologie et Neurocognition, CNRS UMR 5105, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38040, Grenoble Cedex 9, France, david.meary@upmf-grenoble.fr.
Animal Cognition
|March 19, 2014
Summary
Primates share similar face processing, but viewing preferences differ. Humans favor own-race faces, while rhesus macaques prioritize non-human primate faces, influenced by species and dominance.
Area of Science:
- Comparative psychology
- Primate cognition
- Visual attention
Background:
- Primates exhibit selective attention to faces based on conspecificity, familiarity, and social status.
- Similar face processing mechanisms are suggested across primates, yet viewing preference mechanisms remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how face categories influence visual preference in humans and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).
- To compare face viewing strategies between humans and non-human primates.
Main Methods:
- Two eye-tracking experiments utilizing a visual preference task.
- Simultaneous presentation of paired faces from different species (human, rhesus macaque, Barbary macaque, chimpanzee).
Main Results:
- Humans displayed a significant bias towards own-race faces when presented with Asian-Caucasian pairs.
- Rhesus macaques showed increased attention to non-human primate faces paired with human faces.
- Novelty and species identity modulated rhesus macaque viewing preferences, with dominance also playing a role.
Conclusions:
- Face viewing preferences in primates are influenced by multiple factors, including species and social hierarchy.
- Comparative studies reveal both shared and distinct mechanisms in primate face perception.
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