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Left Nipple Preferences in Infant Pan paniscus and P. troglodytes

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We investigated laterality in nipple preference in 16 mother-infant dyads, 8 bonobos, and 8 chimpanzees via an event sampling procedure in infants 5–55 mo of age. Both bonobo and chimpanzee infants preferred the left nipple, and the results were stable over time. Maternal age, experience, and rearing history did not influence laterality in offspring nipple preferences. We discuss the results in the context of the role of early mother-infant interactions on the development of laterality in primates.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

NIH grants NS-36605 and NS-42867 supported W. D. Hopkins. M. De Lathouwers received a BOF-Dehousse grant (October 2000–September 2001) from the University of Antwerp and a Dehousse grant (February 2002–January 2004) from the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp in association with the University of Antwerp, Belgium. We thank the Flemish Government for the structural support to the Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC) of the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (RZSA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Psychobiology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA

    William D. Hopkins

  2. Department of Psychology, Agnes Scott College, 141 East College Avenue, Decatur, Georgia, 30030, USA

    William D. Hopkins

  3. Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerpen (Wilrijk), Belgium

    Mieke De Lathouwers

  4. Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018, Antwerpen, Belgium

    Mieke De Lathouwers

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  1. William D. Hopkins
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Correspondence to William D. Hopkins.

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Hopkins, W.D., De Lathouwers, M. Left Nipple Preferences in Infant Pan paniscus and P. troglodytes . Int J Primatol 27, 1653–1662 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-006-9086-4

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