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Target animacy influences gorilla handedness

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 17:45 authored by Gillian S Forrester, David LeavensDavid Leavens, Caterina Quaresmini, Giorgio Vallortigara
Abstract We investigated the unimanual actions of a biological family group of twelve western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) using a methodological approach designed to assess behavior within social context from a bottom-up perspective. Measures of both the lateralization of unimanual actions (left, right) and the target of the action (animate, inanimate) were assessed during dual, synchronized video observations of naturalistic behavior. This paper demonstrates a corelationship between handedness and the animate quality of the target object. Analyses demonstrated a significant interaction between lateralized unimanual actions and target animacy and a right-hand bias for actions directed toward inanimate targets. We suggest that lateralized motor preference reflects the different processing capabilities of the left and right hemispheres, as influenced by the emotive (animate) and/or functional (inanimate) characteristics of the target, respectively.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Animal Cognition

ISSN

1435-9448

Publisher

Springer-Verlag

Issue

6

Volume

14

Page range

903-907

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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