A Whiten

Publications of A Whiten

• The impact of moving to a novel environment on social networks, activity and wellbeing in two new world primates.

  Authors: V Dufour, C Sueur, A Whiten, H M Buchanan-Smith

  American journal of primatology. 03/2011; 73(8):802-11.

  Among the stressors that can affect animal welfare in zoos, the immediate effect of relocation to a novel environment is one that has received little attention in the literature. Here, we compare theAmong the stressors that can affect animal welfare in zoos, the immediate effect of relocation to a novel environment is one that has received little attention in the literature. Here, we compare the social network, daily activity and the expression of stress-related behavior in capuchins (Cebus apella) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) before and just after they were relocated to a new enriched enclosure. Results showed similar immediate responses to the move in the two species. Both showed a substantial increase in the time spent resting and spent more time in the highest and "safest" part of their enclosure after relocation. Both capuchins and squirrel monkeys spent significantly more time in close proximity to other group members after relocation, compared to before. In squirrel monkeys, the structure of the social network, which was initially correlated to affiliation, was no longer so after the move. In capuchins, the network analysis showed that individuals regrouped by age, with the youngsters who were potentially more affected by stress being in the center of the network. Social network analysis helped to achieve a more complete picture of how individuals were affected by relocation. We suggest that this type of analysis should be used alongside traditional methods of observation and analysis to encompass the most complex aspects of animal behavior in times of stress and to improve welfare.

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• Imitative learning by captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in a simulated food-processing task.

  Authors: T S Stoinski, J L Wrate, N Ure, A Whiten

  Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983). 10/2001; 115(3):272-81.

  Although field studies have suggested the existence of cultural transmission of foraging techniques in primates, identification of transmission mechanisms has remained elusive. To test experimentallyAlthough field studies have suggested the existence of cultural transmission of foraging techniques in primates, identification of transmission mechanisms has remained elusive. To test experimentally for evidence of imitation in the current study, we exposed gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) to an artificial fruit foraging task designed by A. Whiten and D. M. Custance (1996). Gorillas (n=6) watched a human model remove a series of 3 defenses around a fruit. Each of the defenses was removed using 1 of 2 alternative techniques. Subsequent video analysis of gorillas' behavior showed a significant tendency to copy the observed technique on 1 of the individual defenses and the direction of removal on another defense. This is the first statistically reliable evidence of imitation in gorillas. Sequence of defense removal was not replicated. The gorillas' responses were most similar to those of chimpanzees.

• Mental evolution and development: evidence for secondary representation in children, great ages, and other animals.

  Authors: T Suddendorf, A Whiten

  Psychological bulletin. 10/2001; 127(5):629-50.

  Recent interest in the development and evolution of theory of mind has provided a wealth of information about representational skills in both children and animals. According to J. Perner (1991),Recent interest in the development and evolution of theory of mind has provided a wealth of information about representational skills in both children and animals. According to J. Perner (1991), children begin to entertain secondary representations in the 2nd year of life. This advance manifests in their passing hidden displacement tasks, engaging in pretense and means-ends reasoning, interpreting external representations, displaying mirror self-recognition and empathic behavior, and showing an early understanding of "mind" and imitation. New data show a cluster of mental accomplishments in great apes that is very similar to that observed in 2-year-old humans. It is suggested that it is most parsimonious to assume that this cognitive profile is of homologous origin and that great apes possess secondary representational capacity. Evidence from animals other than apes is scant. This analysis leads to a number of predictions for future research.

• Imitation, mirror neurons and autism.

  Authors: J H Williams, A Whiten, T Suddendorf, D I Perrett

  Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. 07/2001; 25(4):287-95.

  Various deficits in the cognitive functioning of people with autism have been documented in recent years but these provide only partial explanations for the condition. We focus instead on anVarious deficits in the cognitive functioning of people with autism have been documented in recent years but these provide only partial explanations for the condition. We focus instead on an imitative disturbance involving difficulties both in copying actions and in inhibiting more stereotyped mimicking, such as echolalia. A candidate for the neural basis of this disturbance may be found in a recently discovered class of neurons in frontal cortex, 'mirror neurons' (MNs). These neurons show activity in relation both to specific actions performed by self and matching actions performed by others, providing a potential bridge between minds. MN systems exist in primates without imitative and 'theory of mind' abilities and we suggest that in order for them to have become utilized to perform social cognitive functions, sophisticated cortical neuronal systems have evolved in which MNs function as key elements. Early developmental failures of MN systems are likely to result in a consequent cascade of developmental impairments characterised by the clinical syndrome of autism.

• Is this the first portrayal of tool use by a chimp?

  Authors: A Whiten, W C McGrew

  Nature. 02/2001; 409(6816):12.

• The cultures of chimpanzees.

  Authors: A Whiten, C Boesch

  Scientific American. 02/2001; 284(1):60-7.

• Social complexity and social intelligence.

  Authors: A Whiten

  Novartis Foundation symposium. 02/2000; 233:185-96; discussion 196-201.

  When we talk of the 'nature of intelligence', or any other attribute, we may be referring to its essential structure, or to its place in nature, particularly the function it has evolved to serve.When we talk of the 'nature of intelligence', or any other attribute, we may be referring to its essential structure, or to its place in nature, particularly the function it has evolved to serve. Here I examine both, from the perspective of the evolution of intelligence in primates. Over the last 20 years, the Social (or 'Machiavellian') Intelligence Hypothesis has gained empirical support. Its core claim is that the intelligence of primates is primarily an adaptation to the special complexities of primate social life. In addition to this hypothesis about the function of intellect, a secondary claim is that the very structure of intelligence has been moulded to be 'social' in character, an idea that presents a challenge to orthodox views of intelligence as a general-purpose capacity. I shall outline the principal components of social intelligence and the environment of social complexity it engages with. This raises the question of whether domain specificity is an appropriate characterization of social intelligence and its subcomponents, like theory of mind. As a counter-argument to such specificity I consider the hypothesis that great apes exhibit a cluster of advanced cognitive abilities that rest on a shared capacity for second-order mental representation.

• Cultures in chimpanzees.

  Authors: A Whiten, J Goodall, W C McGrew, T Nishida, V Reynolds, Y Sugiyama, C E Tutin, R W Wrangham, C Boesch

  Nature. 07/1999; 399(6737):682-5.

  As an increasing number of field studies of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have achieved long-term status across Africa, differences in the behavioural repertoires described have become apparent thatAs an increasing number of field studies of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have achieved long-term status across Africa, differences in the behavioural repertoires described have become apparent that suggest there is significant cultural variation. Here we present a systematic synthesis of this information from the seven most long-term studies, which together have accumulated 151 years of chimpanzee observation. This comprehensive analysis reveals patterns of variation that are far more extensive than have previously been documented for any animal species except humans. We find that 39 different behaviour patterns, including tool usage, grooming and courtship behaviours, are customary or habitual in some communities but are absent in others where ecological explanations have been discounted. Among mammalian and avian species, cultural variation has previously been identified only for single behaviour patterns, such as the local dialects of song-birds. The extensive, multiple variations now documented for chimpanzees are thus without parallel. Moreover, the combined repertoire of these behaviour patterns in each chimpanzee community is itself highly distinctive, a phenomenon characteristic of human cultures but previously unrecognised in non-human species.

• Imitation of the sequential structure of actions by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

  Authors: A Whiten

  Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983). 10/1998; 112(3):270-81.

  Imitation was studied experimentally by allowing chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) to observe alternative patterns of actions for opening a specially designed "artificial fruit." Like problematic foodsImitation was studied experimentally by allowing chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) to observe alternative patterns of actions for opening a specially designed "artificial fruit." Like problematic foods primates deal with naturally, with the test fruit several defenses had to be removed to gain access to an edible core, but the sequential order and method of defense removal could be systematically varied. Each subject repeatedly observed 1 of 2 alternative techniques for removing each defense and 1 of 2 alternative sequential patterns of defense removal. Imitation of sequential organization emerged after repeated cycles of demonstration and attempts at opening the fruit. Imitation in chimpanzees may thus have some power to produce cultural convergence, counter to the supposition that individual learning processes corrupt copied actions. Imitation of sequential organization was accompanied by imitation of some aspects of the techniques that made up the sequence.

• Imitative learning of artificial fruit processing in children (Homo sapiens) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

  Authors: A Whiten, D M Custance, J C Gomez, P Teixidor, K A Bard

  Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983). 04/1996; 110(1):3-14.

  Observational learning in chimpanzees and young children was investigated using an artificial fruit designed as an analog of natural foraging problems faced by primates. Each of 3 principalObservational learning in chimpanzees and young children was investigated using an artificial fruit designed as an analog of natural foraging problems faced by primates. Each of 3 principal components could be removed in 2 alternative ways, demonstration of only one of which was watched by each subject. This permitted subsequent imitation by subjects to be distinguished from stimulus enhancement. Children aged 2-4 years evidenced imitation for 2 components, but also achieved demonstrated outcomes through their own techniques. Chimpanzees relied even more on their own techniques, but they did imitate elements of 1 component of the task. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental evidence of chimpanzee imitation in a functional task designed to simulate foraging behavior hypothesized to be transmitted culturally in the wild.

• Chemical composition of baboon plant foods: implications for the interpretation of intra- and interspecific differences in diet.

  Authors: R A Barton, A Whiten, R W Byrne, M English

  Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology. 02/1993; 61(1):1-20.

  Information on the chemical composition of baboon foods from the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya, is presented. Despite some differences in methods, results of analyses performed on the same foods atInformation on the chemical composition of baboon foods from the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya, is presented. Despite some differences in methods, results of analyses performed on the same foods at different sites were found to be extremely consistent, encouraging the view that meaningful intra- and interspecific comparisons of diet selection are feasible. Contrary to assumptions in the literature, no relationship between the abundance of food types and their chemical composition was found, nor was the foliage eaten by the baboons found to be a low-quality or high-fibre item in comparison with fruits and storage organs. Emphasis is placed on the need for caution in the use of simplistic dietary taxonomies which imply phytochemical and ecological homogeneity within broad food categories. Comparisons between three species revealed marked differences in the chemical composition of their diets; in particular, baboon diets were found to be higher in protein and lower in fibre than those of either lowland gorillas or Malaysian leaf monkeys, and differences in condensed tannin levels were also found. The relationship between these differences and the socio-ecology of the three species is discussed.

• Dietary and foraging strategies of baboons.

  Authors: A Whiten, R W Byrne, R A Barton, P G Waterman, S P Henzi

  Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences. 12/1991; 334(1270):187-95; discussion 195-7.

  As large-bodied savannah primates, baboons have long been of special interest to students of human evolution: many different populations have been studied and dietary comparisons among them areAs large-bodied savannah primates, baboons have long been of special interest to students of human evolution: many different populations have been studied and dietary comparisons among them are becoming possible. Baboons' foraging strategies can be shown to combine high degrees of flexibility and breadth with selectivity. In this paper we develop and test multivariate models of the basis of diet selection for populations of montane and savannah baboons. Food selection is positively related to protein and lipid content and negatively to fibre, phenolics and alkaloids. Seasonal changes in dietary criteria predicted by these rules are tested and confirmed. Although nutritional bottlenecks occur at intervals, a comparison between long-term nutrient intakes in four different populations indicates convergence on lower degrees of variation than exist in superficial foodstuff profiles.

• Demise of the checksheet: Using off-the-shelf miniature hand-held computers for remote fieldwork applications.

  Authors: A Whiten, R A Barton

  Trends in ecology & evolution. 06/1988; 3(6):146-8.

  Laboratory-based researchers have increasingly reaped the benefits of entering data directly into a computer; those concerned with behaviour often using specially designed keyboards. However, manyLaboratory-based researchers have increasingly reaped the benefits of entering data directly into a computer; those concerned with behaviour often using specially designed keyboards. However, many ecologists and ethologists doing fieldwork in remote places have been reluctant to abandon paper checksheets because of worries about unreliability, lack of electrical supply and sheer weight of computer equipment, adding to more general drawbacks such as the need for considerable expertise in purpose-built hardware and software. Having used commercially available hand-held computers extensively for our own fieldwork on baboons in Africa, we are confident that these worries are unfounded. As some researchers have already discovered, field computerization is not something to be distrusted, but in fact offers several important benefits.

• Meta-representation and secondary representation

  Authors: A. Whiten, T. Suddendorf

  Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 5(9):378-378.

• Reinterpreting the mentality of apes

  Authors: T. Suddendorf, A. Whiten

  pages 173-196;

  ISBN: 1-84169-096-1

• Meta-representation and secondary representation

  Authors: A. Whiten, T. Suddendorf

  Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 5(9):378-378.

• Meta-representation and secondary representation

  Authors: A. Whiten, T. Suddendorf

  Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 5(9):378-378.

• Mental evolution and development: Evidence for secondary representation in children, great apes, and other animals

  Authors: T. Suddendorf, A. Whiten

  Psychological Bulletin. 127(5):629-650.

  Recent interest in the development and evolution of theory of mind has provided a wealth of information about representational skills in both children and animals, According to J, Perrier (1991),Recent interest in the development and evolution of theory of mind has provided a wealth of information about representational skills in both children and animals, According to J, Perrier (1991), children begin to entertain secondary representations in the 2nd year of life. This advance manifests in their passing hidden displacement tasks, engaging in pretense and means-ends reasoning, interpreting external representations, displaying mirror self-recognition and empathic behavior, and showing an early understanding of "mind" and imitation. New data show a cluster of mental accomplishments in great apes that is very similar to that observed in 2-year-old humans. It is suggested that it is most parsimonious to assume that this cognitive profile is of homologous origin and that great apes possess secondary representational capacity. Evidence from animals other than apes is scant. This analysis leads to a number of predictions for future research.

• Reinterpreting the mentality of apes

  Authors: T. Suddendorf, A. Whiten

  pages 173-196;

  ISBN: 1-84169-096-1

• Mental evolution and development: Evidence for secondary representation in children, great apes, and other animals

  Authors: T. Suddendorf, A. Whiten

  Psychological Bulletin. 127(5):629-650.

  Recent interest in the development and evolution of theory of mind has provided a wealth of information about representational skills in both children and animals, According to J, Perrier (1991),Recent interest in the development and evolution of theory of mind has provided a wealth of information about representational skills in both children and animals, According to J, Perrier (1991), children begin to entertain secondary representations in the 2nd year of life. This advance manifests in their passing hidden displacement tasks, engaging in pretense and means-ends reasoning, interpreting external representations, displaying mirror self-recognition and empathic behavior, and showing an early understanding of "mind" and imitation. New data show a cluster of mental accomplishments in great apes that is very similar to that observed in 2-year-old humans. It is suggested that it is most parsimonious to assume that this cognitive profile is of homologous origin and that great apes possess secondary representational capacity. Evidence from animals other than apes is scant. This analysis leads to a number of predictions for future research.