TEMPERAMENT AND PROBLEM-SOLVING IN THE SMALL-EARED BUSH-BABY (OTOLEMUR GARNETTII)

Bushbabies (Otolemur garnettii) were tested in an empty open field, wi th novel objects, and with a caged live snake. Each was also tested in the home cage on a latch-box problem. Principal-components analysis o f novelty test scores revealed 4 factors (activity, curiosity, boldnes s, escape). Factor scores were collapsed into an index of behavioral i nhibition and analyzed for group effects. Left-handed (LH) subjects we re less inhibited than right-handed subjects. Underlying factor scores showed laterality effects only in activity: a main effect with LH sub jects more active, an interaction with young, LH subjects higher on ac tivity than other groups. The 17 subjects that solved the latch-box pr oblem had higher scores on curiosity than the 18 that attempted but di d not solve the problem.