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Locomotor Adaptation and Leading Limb Asymmetries in Neonatal Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

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Abstract

We assessed laterality for leading limb in crawling and leading limb in stepping in 13 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) during the first 3 months of life. Overall, there is a significant populational right-side bias for crawling but not for stepping. There is a significant negative correlation between laterality in stepping and crawling. The females are more right-sided in lateral bias than the males across both measures. These data suggest that asymmetries in postural organization are present early in life and are specific to the inherent locomotor behavior of a given species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, School of Education and Human Sciences, Berry College, P.O. Box 495019, Mount Berry, Georgia, 30149-5019

    William D. Hopkins

  2. Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

    Kim A. Bard & Kristine M. Griner

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  1. William D. Hopkins
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  2. Kim A. Bard
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  3. Kristine M. Griner
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Hopkins, W.D., Bard, K.A. & Griner, K.M. Locomotor Adaptation and Leading Limb Asymmetries in Neonatal Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). International Journal of Primatology 18, 105–114 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026397324792

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