A prosocial function of head-gaze aversion and head-cocking in common marmosets
Silvia Spadacenta1, Peter W Dicke2, Peter Thier3
1Cognitive Neurology Laboratory, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. silvia.spadacenta@uni-tuebingen.de.
Primates; Journal of Primatology
|July 15, 2022
Summary
Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) avoid eye contact during playful peekaboo, alternating gaze aversion with eye contact. This behavior may help them manage social stimulation for continued interaction.
Area of Science:
- Primatology
- Ethology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Gaze aversion is a common threat response in many species.
- Common marmosets are believed to tolerate direct gaze unlike other primates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gaze behavior in common marmosets during playful interactions.
- To determine if marmosets exhibit gaze aversion towards familiar individuals.
Main Methods:
- Synchronous video recording from both marmoset and experimenter perspectives.
- Analysis of gaze patterns, head-cocking, and gaze aversion during peekaboo interactions.
Main Results:
- Marmosets consistently alternated between eye contact and head-gaze aversion.
- Head-cocking frequently preceded gaze aversion responses.
- These behaviors were observed during playful interactions with a familiar experimenter.
Conclusions:
- Common marmosets do exhibit gaze aversion, contrary to previous assumptions.
- This behavioral strategy may help regulate social stimulation during face-to-face interactions.
- Gaze aversion could facilitate continued affiliative interactions by managing emotional responses.
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