Visual laterality responses to different emotive stimuli by red-capped mangabeys, Cercocebus torquatus torquatus

Abstract

Hemispheric asymmetry in emotional perception has been put forward by different theories as the right hemisphere theory or the valence theory. But no consensus was found about the role played by both hemispheres. So, in order to test the different theories, we investigated preferential use of one eye in red-capped mangabeys, at the individual as well as at the group level. In this study we investigated the influence of the emotional value of stimuli on the direction and strength of visual preference of 14 red-capped mangabeys. Temporal stability of the bias of use of a given eye was evaluated by comparing our current results to those obtained 2.5 months previously. Two experimental devices, a tube and a box, tested five different stimuli: four food types varying in palatability and a neutral stimulus. The subjects' food preferences were evaluated before testing the laterality. The mangabeys used their left eyes predominantly at the group level for the tube task. The majority of the subjects showed a visual preference at the individual level for the box task, but this bias was not present at the group level. As the palatability of the stimuli increased, the number of lateralized subjects and the number of subjects using preferentially their left eye increased. Similarly, the strength of laterality was related to food preference. Strength of laterality was significantly higher for subjects using their left eye than for subjects using their right eye. Preferential use of a given eye was stable over short periods 2.5 months later. Our data agree with reports on visual laterality for other species. Our results support the valence theory of a hemispheric sharing of control of emotions in relation to their emotional value.

Eye preferences in captive chimpanzees

“…These results are consistent with previous reports using low arousal stimuli with nonhuman primates ( Cercocebus torquatus torquatus : de Latude et al 2009; Callithrix jacchus : Hook-Costigan and Rogers 1998; Otolemur garnettii : Rogers et al 1994). The absence of significant laterality when viewing low arousal stimuli could be due to the lack of emotional relevance connected to the object.…”

“…This eye preference was weakened when testing mother bushbabies as they viewed their babies being held by the tester, suggesting that arousal and/or the stimulus being viewed effected eye use. For red-capped mangabeys, the strength of eye preference has been correlated to food preference, implying a directional relationship where the more desirable food elicits a stronger eye preference (de Latude et al 2009). Studies regarding the influence of stimulus suggest that the direction of eye preference depends not only on the stimulus, but also on the subject’s emotions toward it (Hook-Costigan and Rogers 1998).…”

Laterality as an indicator of emotional stress in ewes and lambs during a separation test

“…As reported previously, many factors can modulate the strength of lateralised behaviour such as experience, the context or the emotional valence of the situation (Versace et al 2007;de Latude et al 2009;Robins and Phillips 2010). It is possible that the stronger LI for lambs reflected heightened emotional significance of separation for the lamb during the laterality test.…”

Non-invasive stress evaluation in domestic horses ( Equus caballus ): impact of housing conditions on sensory laterality and immunoglobulin A

“…Social information, both in agonistic and affiliative contexts, is processed by the left hemisphere and this reflects the need to respond quickly and appropriately to emotional information [43]. The use of sensory organs on the left side has been shown to correspond with increased emotionality in horses [31,42,[44][45][46], red-capped mangabeys [47], lizards [48] and dogs [49]. However, royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsos R. Soc.…”