title: The influence of AVPR1A genotype on individual differences in behaviors during a mirror self-recognition task in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).
abstract: The mark/rouge test has been used to assess mirror self-recognition (MSR) in many species. Despite consistent evidence of MSR in great apes, genetic or non-genetic factors may account for the individual differences in behavioral responses that have been reported. We examined whether vasopressin receptor gene (AVPR1A) polymorphisms are associated with MSR-related behaviors in chimpanzees since vasopressin has been implicated in the development and evolution of complex social relations and cognition and chimpanzees are polymorphic for the presence of the RS3-containing DupB region. We compared a sample of DupB+/- and DupB-/- chimpanzees on a mark test to assess its role on social behavior toward a mirror. Chimpanzees were administered two, 10-min sessions where frequencies of mirror-guided self-directed behaviors, contingent actions and other social behaviors were recorded. Approximately one-third showed evidence of MSR and these individuals exhibited more mirror-guided self-exploratory behaviors and mouth contingent actions than chimpanzees not classified as passers. Moreover, DupB+/- males exhibited more scratching and agonistic behaviors than other male and female cohorts. Our findings support previous studies demonstrating individual differences in MSR abilities in chimpanzees and suggest that AVPR1A partly explains individual differences in MSR by influencing the behavioral reactions of chimpanzees in front of a mirror.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Mahovetz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.|Yerkes Primate National Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.|Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute and the Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.|Division of Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate, Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Hopkins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D000066499:Facial Recognition; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics*; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin
keywords: AVPR1A; chimpanzee; genetics; mark test; mirror self-recognition; nonhuman primates; scratching; social behavior; social cognition; vasopressin