Reactions to novel objects in monkeys: what does it mean to be neophobic?

0507817 - FGÚ 2020 RIV JP eng J - Journal Article
Englerová, K. - Klement, Daniel - Frynta, D. - Rokyta, R. - Nekovářová, T.
Reactions to novel objects in monkeys: what does it mean to be neophobic?
Primates. Roč. 60, č. 4 (2019), s. 347-353. ISSN 0032-8332. E-ISSN 1610-7365
Institutional support: RVO:67985823
Keywords : novelty response * exploration * neophobia * neophilia * Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)
OECD category: Neurosciences (including psychophysiology
Impact factor: 1.590, year: 2019
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10329-019-00731-2

Animals' reactions to novel objects vary not only with zoological taxa and their ecology but also in the types of presented stimuli, the context, and individual characteristics. Behavioral reactions can vary from extremely neophobic (avoiding novel objects) to extremely neophilic (intense exploration of novel objects), most often, a mixture of these behavioral patterns appears. In primates, reactions toward novel objects vary according to species, age, sex, population, and the types of objects. Most experiments in this field have used a free exploration design with food or non-food objects. Here, we tested the reactions of captive male rhesus macaques using various stimuli, motivation levels, rewards, and time limits. We found that the monkeys explored and manipulated novel objects in various contexts, with little evidence of a neophobic response, however, environment, types of stimuli, and other parameters of the test can significantly affect monkeys' reactions.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0298784