An analysis of bimanual actions in natural feeding of semi-wild chimpanzees

Objective The objective of the current study was to investigate the lateral dominance for a bimanually coordinated natural feeding behavior in semi-wild chimpanzees. Materials and Methods We investigated strychnos spp. fruit consumption behaviors in semi-wild chimpanzees as an ecologically comparable feeding behavior to those found in cerebral lateralization studies of non-primate species. Video recordings of thirty-three chimpanzees were assessed while they consumed hard-shelled strychnos fruits. We explored statistical and descriptive measures of hand dominance to highlight lateralized patterns. Results Statistical evaluation of feeding bouts revealed a group-level right-handed bias for bimanual coordinated feeding actions, however few individuals were statistically lateralized. Descriptive analyses revealed that the majority of individuals were lateralized and possessed a right-handed bias for strychnos feeding behavior. Discussion The results provide empirical evidence in supports of an early evolutionary delineation of function for the right and left hemispheres. The present findings suggest that great apes express an intermediate stage along the phylogenetic trajectory of human manual lateralization.

The Edinburgh Critical Edition of the Selected Writings of Andrew Lang: volume 1

This is the first critical edition of the works of Andrew Lang (1844-1912), the Scottish writer whose enormous output spanned the whole range of late nineteenth century intellectual culture. Neglected since his death, partly because of the diversity of his interests and the volume of his writing, his cultural centrality and the interdisciplinary nature of his work make him a vital figure for contemporary scholars. This volume covers his work in anthropology, including that on fairy tale, folklore, the origins of religion, and psychical research.