Chimpanzees are right-handed when recording bouts of hand use

William D. Hopkins; Claudio Cantalupo; Hani Freeman; Jamie Russell; Mike Kachin; Eliza Nelson

doi:10.1080/13576500342000347

Chimpanzees are right-handed when recording bouts of hand use

William D. Hopkins, Claudio Cantalupo, Hani Freeman, Jamie Russell, Mike Kachin, Eliza Nelson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Whether nonhuman primates exhibit population-level handedness remains a topic of considerable debate. Previous research has shown that chimpanzees are right-handed when frequencies of hand use are recorded but some have questioned the validity of this approach. In this study, we evaluated handedness in 180 captive chimpanzees for a task measuring bimanual actions. Bouts rather than frequency of hand use were recorded in each subject. Population-level right-handedness was found using both continuous and nominal scales of measurement. Neither sex nor rearing history had a significant effect on hand use. These results indicate that chimpanzees are right-handed, even when using a more conservative measure of handedness. Limitations in the use of bouts in handedness assessment are also discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	121-130
Number of pages	10
Journal	Laterality
Volume	10
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/13576500342000347
State	Published - Mar 2005
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
General Psychology

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10.1080/13576500342000347

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title = "Chimpanzees are right-handed when recording bouts of hand use",

abstract = "Whether nonhuman primates exhibit population-level handedness remains a topic of considerable debate. Previous research has shown that chimpanzees are right-handed when frequencies of hand use are recorded but some have questioned the validity of this approach. In this study, we evaluated handedness in 180 captive chimpanzees for a task measuring bimanual actions. Bouts rather than frequency of hand use were recorded in each subject. Population-level right-handedness was found using both continuous and nominal scales of measurement. Neither sex nor rearing history had a significant effect on hand use. These results indicate that chimpanzees are right-handed, even when using a more conservative measure of handedness. Limitations in the use of bouts in handedness assessment are also discussed.",

author = "Hopkins, {William D.} and Claudio Cantalupo and Hani Freeman and Jamie Russell and Mike Kachin and Eliza Nelson",

note = "Funding Information: Address correspondence to: Dr William Hopkins, Division of Psychobiology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Email: lrcbh@rmy.emory.edu or whopkins@berry.edu This work was supported in part by NIH grants RR-00165, NS-36605, NS-42867, and HD-38051.",

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doi = "10.1080/13576500342000347",

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AU - Cantalupo, Claudio

AU - Freeman, Hani

AU - Russell, Jamie

AU - Kachin, Mike

AU - Nelson, Eliza

N1 - Funding Information: Address correspondence to: Dr William Hopkins, Division of Psychobiology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Email: lrcbh@rmy.emory.edu or whopkins@berry.edu This work was supported in part by NIH grants RR-00165, NS-36605, NS-42867, and HD-38051.

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N2 - Whether nonhuman primates exhibit population-level handedness remains a topic of considerable debate. Previous research has shown that chimpanzees are right-handed when frequencies of hand use are recorded but some have questioned the validity of this approach. In this study, we evaluated handedness in 180 captive chimpanzees for a task measuring bimanual actions. Bouts rather than frequency of hand use were recorded in each subject. Population-level right-handedness was found using both continuous and nominal scales of measurement. Neither sex nor rearing history had a significant effect on hand use. These results indicate that chimpanzees are right-handed, even when using a more conservative measure of handedness. Limitations in the use of bouts in handedness assessment are also discussed.

AB - Whether nonhuman primates exhibit population-level handedness remains a topic of considerable debate. Previous research has shown that chimpanzees are right-handed when frequencies of hand use are recorded but some have questioned the validity of this approach. In this study, we evaluated handedness in 180 captive chimpanzees for a task measuring bimanual actions. Bouts rather than frequency of hand use were recorded in each subject. Population-level right-handedness was found using both continuous and nominal scales of measurement. Neither sex nor rearing history had a significant effect on hand use. These results indicate that chimpanzees are right-handed, even when using a more conservative measure of handedness. Limitations in the use of bouts in handedness assessment are also discussed.

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Chimpanzees are right-handed when recording bouts of hand use

Abstract

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