Personality traits in captive lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus)

Rouff, Jacqueline H.; Sussman, Robert W.; Strube, Michael

doi:10.1002/ajp.20176

Cited by 30 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Other studies that also used large sample sizes and similar statistical techniques have identified 3 to 6 personality or temperament traits in macaques [Capitanio, 1999; Rouff, Sussman, & Stroube, 2005; Weiss et al, 2011]. Our four components are consistent with this range.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Temperament in Rhesus, Long‐Tailed, and Pigtailed Macaques Varies by Species and Sex

Sussman

Bentson

et al. 2012

American J Primatol

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Temperament differs among individuals both within and between species. Evidence suggests that differences in temperament of group members may parallel differences in social behavior among groups or between species. Here, we compared temperament between three closely related species of monkey - rhesus (Macaca mulatta), long-tailed (M. fascicularis), and pigtailed (M. nemestrina) macaques - using cage-front behavioral observations of individually housed monkeys at a National Primate Research Center. Frequencies of 12 behaviors in 899 subjects were analyzed using a PCA to identify temperament components. The analysis identified four components, which we interpreted as Sociability towards humans, Cautiousness, Aggressiveness, and Fearfulness. Species and sexes differed in their average scores on these components, even after controlling for differences in age and early-life experiences. Our results suggest that rhesus macaques are especially aggressive and unsociable towards humans, long-tailed macaques are more cautious and fearful, and pigtailed macaques are more sociable towards humans and less aggressive than the other species. Pigtailed males were notably more sociable than any other group. The differences observed are consistent with reported variation in these species’ social behaviors, as rhesus macaques generally engage in more social aggression and pigtailed macaques engage in more male-male affiliative behaviors. Differences in predation risks are among the socioecological factors that might make these species-typical behaviors adaptive. Our results suggest that adaptive species-level social differences may be encoded in individual-level temperaments, which are manifested even outside of a social context.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Temperament in Rhesus, Long‐Tailed, and Pigtailed Macaques Varies by Species and Sex

Sussman

Bentson

et al. 2012

American J Primatol

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“…The difference between the profiles of groups A, B and C could be explained by different temperament or “personality” traits, defined as an individual’s perception of its situation and behavioural response to it [64]. In the literature, the concept of “personality” has indeed been used in many species as an explanation for phenomena such as dominance status, differences in social behaviours, or reactivity towards challenging stimuli [60], [64]–[68]. It is presently unknown whether a relationship exists between “personality traits” and the emerging pathological profile in unfavourable conditions (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural Profiles in Captive-Bred Cynomolgus Macaques: Towards Monkey Models of Mental Disorders?

et al. 2013

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BackgroundTo date, experimental and preclinical studies on neuropsychiatric conditions have almost exclusively been performed in experimentally-induced animal models and have only rarely relied upon an ethological approach where animals have been observed in more naturalistic settings. The laboratory species of choice has been the rodent while the potential of more closely-related non-human primates have remained largely underexplored.MethodsThe present study, therefore, aimed at investigating the possible existence of spontaneous atypical/abnormal behaviours displayed by 40 cynomolgus macaques in captive conditions using an unbiased ethological scan-sampling analysis followed by multifactorial correspondence analysis and a hierarchical clustering.ResultsThe study identified five distinct profiles (groups A to E) that significantly differed on several behaviours, body postures, body orientations, gaze directions and locations in the cage environment. We suggest that animals from the low n groups (D and E) present depressive-like and anxious-like symptoms, reminiscent of depressive and generalized anxiety disorders. Inter-individual differences were highlighted through unbiased ethological observations of spontaneous behaviours and associated parameters, although these were not associated with differences in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid levels of either stress-related hormones or monoamines, i.e. in accordance with the human situation.ConclusionsNo interventional behavioural testing was required to discriminate between 3 typical and 2 atypical ethologically-defined behavioural profiles, reminiscent of certain depressive-like and anxiety-like symptoms. The use of unbiased behavioural observations might, thus, allow the identification of animal models of human mental/behavioural disorders and their most appropriate control groups.

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“…These differences might be explained by distinct temperaments or personality traits, defined as factors influencing an individual’s perception of a situation and orchestrating its behavioural responses [58], and which have been suggested as determining causal factors for several social and emotional phenomena ( e.g. dominance or response to an unfamiliar stimuli [59], [60]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Birth Origin Differentially Affects Depressive-Like Behaviours: Are Captive-Born Cynomolgus Monkeys More Vulnerable to Depression than Their Wild-Born Counterparts?

et al. 2013

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BackgroundAdverse early-life experience might lead to the expression of abnormal behaviours in animals and the predisposition to psychiatric disorder (e.g. major depressive disorder) in Humans. Common breeding processes employ weaning and housing conditions different from what happens in the wild.MethodsThe present study, therefore, investigated whether birth origin impacts the possible existence of spontaneous atypical/abnormal behaviours displayed by 40 captive-born and 40 wild-born socially-housed cynomolgus macaques in farming conditions using an unbiased ethological scan-sampling analysis followed by multifactorial correspondence and hierarchical clustering analyses.ResultsWe identified 10 distinct profiles (groups A to J) that significantly differed on several behaviours, body postures, body orientations, distances between individuals and locations in the cage. Data suggest that 4 captive-born and 1 wild-born animals (groups G and J) present depressive-like symptoms, unnatural early life events thereby increasing the risk of developing pathological symptoms. General differences were also highlighted between the captive- and wild-born populations, implying the expression of differential coping mechanisms in response to the same captive environment.ConclusionsBirth origin thus impacts the development of atypical ethologically-defined behavioural profiles, reminiscent of certain depressive-like symptoms. The use of unbiased behavioural observations might allow the identification of animal models of human mental/behavioural disorders and their most appropriate control groups.

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Personality traits in captive lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus)

Cited by 30 publications

References 61 publications

Temperament in Rhesus, Long‐Tailed, and Pigtailed Macaques Varies by Species and Sex

Temperament in Rhesus, Long‐Tailed, and Pigtailed Macaques Varies by Species and Sex

Behavioural Profiles in Captive-Bred Cynomolgus Macaques: Towards Monkey Models of Mental Disorders?

Birth Origin Differentially Affects Depressive-Like Behaviours: Are Captive-Born Cynomolgus Monkeys More Vulnerable to Depression than Their Wild-Born Counterparts?

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