Abstract
We tested whether chimpanzee handedness could be characterized as either unidimensional or multidimensional when considered across multiple measures of hand use. We determined for each of 6 different tasks in a sample of 105 captive chimpanzees hand preferences, and subjected the individual hand preference scores to a factor analysis. Five of the 6 tasks loaded on two separate factors that accounted for 54% of the variance. To assess population-level handedness, we calculated handedness indices for the loadings on each factor, for the item loadings across all factors, and for all tasks including ones that did not load on any factor. There is significant population-level right handedness for all 4 indices, which suggests that chimpanzee handedness is multidimensional and not task specific.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1155-1168 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | International Journal of Primatology |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2002 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Asymmetry
- Chimpanzee
- Factor analysis
- Great Apes
- Handedness
- Laterality
- Non-human primates
- Pan troglodytes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Animal Science and Zoology