This research is based on the idea that some prosimian species are good models in which to test certain postulates of the ‘‘postural origins’’ theory proposed by MacNeilage and colleagues [Behavioral and Brain Sciences10:247–303, 1987] to explain the evolution of hand preference within the order Primates. We investigated manual laterality in 16 wild indris (eight males and eight females, living in four social groups) in their habitat, the Madagascan tropical rain forest. Data were collected on two spontaneous behaviors: ‘‘branch-reach,’’ an action that occurs during foraging, and “higher support”, a posture typical of clingers and leapers. A total of seven subjects were significantly lateralized for branch-reach (two showed a right preference, and five showed a left preference). Four subjects were significantly lateralized for higher support, and all of them showed a right-hand preference. Most of the indris we studied showed no preference. Our research suggests that indri are at ‘‘level 1 of laterality’’ in the classification framework proposed by McGrew and Marchant [Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 40:201–232, 1997]. The data presented here are not discordant with the ‘‘postural origins’’ theory, since hand preference for lateralized subjects was often in the direction predicted by MacNeilage and colleagues [Behavioral and Brain Sciences 10:247–303, 1987]. However, only a minority of indris showed hand preference.

Laterality of manual function in foraging and positional behavior in wild Indri (Indri indri) / M.M. Rigamonti, C. Spiezio, F. Fazio, M. Poli. - In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY. - ISSN 0275-2565. - 65:1(2005 Jan), pp. 27-38.

Laterality of manual function in foraging and positional behavior in wild Indri (Indri indri)

M. Poli
Ultimo
2005

Abstract

This research is based on the idea that some prosimian species are good models in which to test certain postulates of the ‘‘postural origins’’ theory proposed by MacNeilage and colleagues [Behavioral and Brain Sciences10:247–303, 1987] to explain the evolution of hand preference within the order Primates. We investigated manual laterality in 16 wild indris (eight males and eight females, living in four social groups) in their habitat, the Madagascan tropical rain forest. Data were collected on two spontaneous behaviors: ‘‘branch-reach,’’ an action that occurs during foraging, and “higher support”, a posture typical of clingers and leapers. A total of seven subjects were significantly lateralized for branch-reach (two showed a right preference, and five showed a left preference). Four subjects were significantly lateralized for higher support, and all of them showed a right-hand preference. Most of the indris we studied showed no preference. Our research suggests that indri are at ‘‘level 1 of laterality’’ in the classification framework proposed by McGrew and Marchant [Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 40:201–232, 1997]. The data presented here are not discordant with the ‘‘postural origins’’ theory, since hand preference for lateralized subjects was often in the direction predicted by MacNeilage and colleagues [Behavioral and Brain Sciences 10:247–303, 1987]. However, only a minority of indris showed hand preference.
Settore M-PSI/01 - Psicologia Generale
gen-2005
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/15147
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