Hand Preference in the Use of Tools by Infant Baboons (Papio Cynocephalus Anubis)

Abstract

Hand preference in the use of tools was examined in a peer group of five infant baboons, Papio cynocephalus anubis. Hand preference was noted for all subjects on a sponging task and for one subject on a probing task. The baboons exhibited the highest percentage of bimanual actions on the initial segment of each three-component task. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that immature nonhuman primates exhibit lateral asymmetries when they use tools and bimanual coordination when they perform complex manipulative tasks.