BEHAVIORAL LATERALITY IN CAPTIVE BONOBOS (PAN-PANISCUS)

Behavioral laterality was studied in a captive group of 11 bonobos (Pa n paniscus). In an observational method a significant left lateral bia s in carrying and a right lateral bias in leading limb were found. Dir ection of lateral bias in carrying and leading limb was enhanced when subjects maintained a bipedal posture. Analysis of bimanual feeding be havior revealed a significant right-hand bias for eating when subjects were holding food with their left hand. In an experimental method a s ignificant shift toward greater right-hand use was found when subjects were required to maintain a bipedal, rather than a quadrupedal, postu re. There was no evidence of lateral bias for measures of face touchin g, self-touching, or gestures. The results are discussed in the contex t of previous reports of primate laterality.