Handedness and approach-avoidance behavior in chimpanzees (Pan).

W D Hopkins; A J Bennett

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PubMed · 7964523

Handedness and approach-avoidance behavior in chimpanzees (Pan).

W D Hopkins·A J Bennett

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Abstract

The relationship between hand preference and approach-avoidance behavior was examined in 49 chimpanzees (Pan). Ss were presented with 2 sets of novel objects on 4 consecutive days. The objects were presented for 2 hr during each session, and latency to touch any object was recorded for each S. Latency scores were then compared for chimpanzees that had been determined to be non-right- or right-handed. Right-handed Ss approached and touched the objects significantly faster than non-right-handed Ss did. In addition, males touched the objects significantly faster than did females. Correlations in approach-avoidance behavior were significant across stimulus sets and days of testing. The overall results support recent theoretical models linking hemispheric specialization with the expression of positive and negative affective behaviors.

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Affect Age Factors Animals Behavior, Animal Brain Exploratory Behavior Female Functional Laterality Male Pan troglodytes Time Factors Comparative Study Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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W D Hopkins, A J Bennett. 1994. Handedness and approach-avoidance behavior in chimpanzees (Pan).. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7964523/

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