Summary
Social signals of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) were elicited by remote-controlled brain stimulation. The method employed permits a study of signal-response interdependencies in varying social situations which can be chosen at the experimenter's will.
The function of a signal and thereby its information content are largely determined by the response of the recipients. The analysis of signal function was attempted under five conditions of social interactions: (1) reactions of group members to attack behavior of the stimulated animal, (2) reactions to dominance gestures of the stimulated animal, (3) reactions to signals that are indiscernible to the human observer, (4) reactions that are unusual or abnormal, and (5) reactions to signals sent over greater or lesser distances. Several aspects of the signal proved to be decisive for the prediction of behavior: (1) the signal intensity, (2) the space between animals, and (3) the context. The control of these variables by means of radio stimulation permits further quantitative studies of signal characteristics and their effects on the modification of social behavior.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altmann, S.A.: A field study of the sociobiology of rhesus monkeys, Macaca mulatta. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 102 (2), 338–435 (1962).
—: Sociobiology of rhesus monkeys. II. Stochastics of social communication. J. theor. Biol. 8, 490–522 (1965).
—: Sociobiology of rhesus monkeys. III. The basic communication network. Behaviour 32, 2–32 (1968).
Baldwin, J.D.: The social organization of a semifreeranging troop of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). Folia primatol. 13 (In press) (1970).
Castell, R., Krohn, H., Ploog, D.: Rückenwälzen bei Totenkopfaffen (Saimiri sciureus): Körperpflege und soziale Punktion. Z. Tierpsychol. 26, 488–497 (1969).
— Ploog, D.: Zum Sozialverhalten der Totenkopfaffen (Saimiri sciureus): Auseinandersetzung zwischen zwei Kolonien. Z. Tierpsychol. 24, 625–641 (1967).
Delgado, J.M.R.: Telemetry and telestimulation of the brain. In: L. Slater (ed.), Bio-Telemetry, pp. 231–249, New York: Pergamon Press 1963.
—: Aggressive behavior evoked by radio stimulation in monkey colonies. American Zoologist 6, 669–681 (1966).
—: Aggression and defense under cerebral radio control. In: C.D. Clemente and D.B. Lindsley (eds): Aggression and Defense Neural Mechanisms and Social Patterns, University of California Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles, pp. 171–193 (1967a).
—: Social rank and radio-stimulated aggressiveness in monkeys. J. nerv. ment. Dis. 144, 383–390 (1967b).
—, Mir, D.: Pragmental organization of emotional behavior in the monkey brain. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 159 (3), 731–751 (1969).
Gergen, J.A., MacLean, P.D.: A sterotaxic atlas of the squirrel monkey's brain (Saimiri sciureus). Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office 1962.
Hinde, R.A., Rowell, T.E.: Communication by postures and facial expressions in rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 138 (I), 1–21 (1962).
Holst, E.v., Saint-Paul, U.v.: Vom Wirkungsgefüge der Triebe. Naturwissenschaften 18, 409–422 (1960).
Jürgens, U., Maurus, M., Ploog, D., Winter, P.: Vocalization in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) elicited by brain stimulation. Exp. Brain Res. 4, 114–117 (1967).
—, Ploog, D.: Cerebral representation of vocalization in the squirrel monkey. Exp. Brain Res. 10, 532–554 (1970).
Kummer, H.: Soziales Verhalten einer Mantelpavian-Gruppe. Beiheft 33, Schweiz. Z. Psychol. Bern: Huber 1957.
—, Social Organization of Hamadryas Baboons. S. Karger, Basel, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London, The University of Toronto Press, Toronto 1968.
Latta, J., Hopf, S., Ploog, D.: Observation on mating behavior and sexual play in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus). Primates 8, 229–246 (1967).
Lorenz, K.: Der Kumpan in der Umwelt des Vogels. J. Ornithol. 83, 137–413 (1935).
—: Evolution and Modification of Behavior. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press 1965.
MacLean, P.D., Ploog, D.: Cerebral representation of penile erection. J. Neurophysiol. 25, 29–55 (1962).
Marler, P.: Communication in monkeys and apes. In: DeVore (ed.), Primate Behavior: Field Studies of Monkeys and Apes, pp. 544–584. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston 1965.
Maurus, M.: Neue Fernreizapparatur für Kleine Primaten. Naturwissenschaften 54, 593 (1967).
—: A new telestimulation technique for the study of social behavior of the squirrel monkey. In: Progress in Primatology. First Congress of the Intern. Primatological Society, Frankfurt 1966. Stuttgart: G. Fischer 1967.
Maurus, M., Ploog, D.: Motor and vocal interactions in groups of squirrel monkeys, elicited by remotecontrolled electrical brain stimulation. Proc. 2nd Int. Congr. Primat., Atlanta, GA 1968, Vol. 3, pp. 59–63. Basel and New York: Karger 1969.
Ploog, D.: Vergleichend quantitative Verhaltensstudien an zwei Totenkopfaffen-Kolonien. Z. Morph. Anthrop. 53, 92–108 (1963).
—: The behavior of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) as revealed by sociometry, bioacoustics, and brain stimulation. In: S.A. Altmann (ed.): Social Communication Among Primates. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press 1967.
—: Early communication processes in squirrel monkeys. In: R.J. Robinson (ed.), Brain and Early Behavior. Development in the fetus and infant, pp. 269–298. London and New York: Academic Press 1969.
—: Social communication among animals. In: The Neurosciences Second Study Program. Schmitt, F.O., Quarton, G.C., Melnechuk, T., and Adelman, G., eds. New York: The Rockefeller University Press. (In press), 1970.
—, Blitz, J., Ploog, F.: Studies on social and sexual behavior of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus). Folia primatol. 1, 29–66 (1963).
—, Hopf, S., Winter, P.: Ontogenese des Verhaltens von Totenkopf-Affen (Saimiri sciureus). Psychol. Forsch. 31, 1–41 (1967).
—, MacLean, P.D.: Display of penile erection in squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus). Anim. Behav. 11, 32–39 (1963).
—, Melnechuk, T.: Primate Communication. Neurosciences Research Symposium Summeries 4, 103–190. Cambridge, Mass, and London, England: The M.I.T. Press 1970.
Robinson, B.W.: Vocalization evoked from forebrain in Macaca mulatta. Physiol. Behav. 2, 345–354 (1967).
—, Alexander, M., Bowne, G.: Dominance reversal resulting from aggressive responses evoked by brain telestimulation. Physiol. Behav. 4, 749–752 (1969).
—, Warner, H., Rosvold, H.E.: A head-mounted remote-controlled brain stimulator for use on rhesus monkeys. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol. 17, 200–203 (1964).
Tinbergen, N.: Social releasers and the experimental method required for their study. Wilson Bull. 60, 6–52 (1948).
Winter, P., Ploog, D., Latta, J.: Vocal repertoire of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), its analysis and significance. Exp. Brain Res. 1, 359–384 (1966).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maurus, M., Ploog, D. Social signals in squirrel monkeys: Analysis by cerebral radio stimulation. Exp Brain Res 12, 171–183 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234314
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234314