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.
authors.affiliation: Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, USA. lrcbh@rmy.emory.edu
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantalupo
authors.forename: Hani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kachin
authors.forename: Eliza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000828:Animal Population Groups / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000523:psychology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D015203:Reproducibility of Results