Exploring the Cognitive Capacities of Japanese Macaques in a Cooperation Game

Cooperation occurs amongst individuals embedded in a social environment. Consequently, cooperative interactions involve a variety of persistent social influences such as the dynamics of partner choice and reward division. To test for the effects of such dynamics, we conducted cooperation experiments...

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Main Authors: Ryan Sigmundson, Mathieu S. Stribos, Roy Hammer, Julia Herzele, Lena S. Pflüger, Jorg J. M. Massen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/6/1497
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author Ryan Sigmundson
Mathieu S. Stribos
Roy Hammer
Julia Herzele
Lena S. Pflüger
Jorg J. M. Massen
author_facet Ryan Sigmundson
Mathieu S. Stribos
Roy Hammer
Julia Herzele
Lena S. Pflüger
Jorg J. M. Massen
author_sort Ryan Sigmundson
collection DOAJ
description Cooperation occurs amongst individuals embedded in a social environment. Consequently, cooperative interactions involve a variety of persistent social influences such as the dynamics of partner choice and reward division. To test for the effects of such dynamics, we conducted cooperation experiments in a captive population of Japanese macaques (<i>Macaca fuscata</i>, N = 164) using a modified version of the loose-string paradigm in an open-experiment design. We show that in addition to becoming more proficient cooperators over the course of the experiments, some of the macaques showed sensitivity to the presence of potential partners and adjusted their behavior accordingly. Furthermore, following an unequal reward division, individuals receiving a lesser reward were more likely to display aggressive and stress-related behaviors. Our experiments demonstrate that Japanese macaques have some understanding of the contingencies involved in cooperation as well as a sensitivity to the subsequent reward division suggestive of an aversion to inequity.
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spelling doaj.art-e1158c43d8bc451abf5d154b0e380c7c2023-11-21T20:51:23ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-05-01116149710.3390/ani11061497Exploring the Cognitive Capacities of Japanese Macaques in a Cooperation GameRyan Sigmundson0Mathieu S. Stribos1Roy Hammer2Julia Herzele3Lena S. Pflüger4Jorg J. M. Massen5Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, AustriaAnimal Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The NetherlandsAnimal Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The NetherlandsAustrian Research Center for Primatology, 9570 Ossiach, AustriaAustrian Research Center for Primatology, 9570 Ossiach, AustriaAnimal Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The NetherlandsCooperation occurs amongst individuals embedded in a social environment. Consequently, cooperative interactions involve a variety of persistent social influences such as the dynamics of partner choice and reward division. To test for the effects of such dynamics, we conducted cooperation experiments in a captive population of Japanese macaques (<i>Macaca fuscata</i>, N = 164) using a modified version of the loose-string paradigm in an open-experiment design. We show that in addition to becoming more proficient cooperators over the course of the experiments, some of the macaques showed sensitivity to the presence of potential partners and adjusted their behavior accordingly. Furthermore, following an unequal reward division, individuals receiving a lesser reward were more likely to display aggressive and stress-related behaviors. Our experiments demonstrate that Japanese macaques have some understanding of the contingencies involved in cooperation as well as a sensitivity to the subsequent reward division suggestive of an aversion to inequity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/6/1497inequity aversionecological validityfield experimentsloose-string paradigmpartner choiceanimal cognition
spellingShingle Ryan Sigmundson
Mathieu S. Stribos
Roy Hammer
Julia Herzele
Lena S. Pflüger
Jorg J. M. Massen
Exploring the Cognitive Capacities of Japanese Macaques in a Cooperation Game
Animals
inequity aversion
ecological validity
field experiments
loose-string paradigm
partner choice
animal cognition
title Exploring the Cognitive Capacities of Japanese Macaques in a Cooperation Game
title_full Exploring the Cognitive Capacities of Japanese Macaques in a Cooperation Game
title_fullStr Exploring the Cognitive Capacities of Japanese Macaques in a Cooperation Game
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Cognitive Capacities of Japanese Macaques in a Cooperation Game
title_short Exploring the Cognitive Capacities of Japanese Macaques in a Cooperation Game
title_sort exploring the cognitive capacities of japanese macaques in a cooperation game
topic inequity aversion
ecological validity
field experiments
loose-string paradigm
partner choice
animal cognition
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/6/1497
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