Presentation Details
| Endogenous Oxytocin Elevation Influences Knowledge Acquisition in Captive Tufted Capuchins Paige M.Petschl, Sarah F.Brosnan. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA |
Abstract
Social learning is central to knowledge acquisition in animals. While the behavioral mechanisms of social learning are well characterized, its neurobiological foundations are understudied. Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide implicated in affiliation and social salience, may shape how individuals use social information. We tested 10 capuchins (Sapajus spp.) using a token exchange task in which subjects observed a demonstrator exchange two novel tokens differing in reward value before their own trials (social) or immediately began their trials (non-social). OT was manipulated endogenously (fur-rubbing vs. food control) and exogenously (nebulized OT vs. saline control). We found that condition significantly affected the frequency of trading the high-value token (χ²(7)=79.46, p< 0.05). Moreover, subjects were more likely to trade the high-value token under endogenous OT conditions in both the social (b=0.949±0.192, p< .05) and non-social contexts (b=0.699±0.129, p< .05), but there were no significant effects in either control or the exogenous OT conditions. These findings suggest that endogenous OT influences how capuchins incorporate novel information into subsequent decision-making.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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