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Manual laterality in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in complex tasks
M Colell1, M D Segarra, J Sabater-Pi
1Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Journal of Comparative Psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983)
|September 1, 1995
Summary
Chimpanzees display significant hand preferences, particularly for precision grips, influenced by task demands and developmental maturation. These findings shed light on the factors affecting manual laterality in primates.
Area of Science:
- Primate behavior
- Animal cognition
- Comparative psychology
Background:
- Manual laterality, or hand preference, is a key characteristic in primate behavior.
- Understanding the factors influencing hand preference in non-human primates offers insights into the evolution of human handedness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate manual laterality in chimpanzees using problem-solving tasks.
- To identify task-specific and developmental influences on hand preference.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-four chimpanzees were presented with four problem-solving apparatuses requiring food retrieval.
- Hand use (sequential, simultaneous, or both) was recorded to assess manual laterality.
- Preference was analyzed in relation to task complexity and grip requirements.
Main Results:
- A majority of chimpanzees exhibited significant and consistent hand preferences.
- Preference was most pronounced in tasks demanding a precision grip.
- Hand preference varied based on the specific actions required by the task.
Conclusions:
- Task characteristics, especially precision grip requirements, significantly influence manual laterality in chimpanzees.
- Ontogenetic maturation plays a role in shaping the degree and direction of hand preference.
- Chimpanzee manual laterality is a complex trait influenced by both external task factors and internal developmental processes.