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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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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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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issn | 2076-2615 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:10:45Z |
publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
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series | Animals |
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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