Faithful replication of foraging techniques along cultural transmission chains by chimpanzees and children
Faithful replication of foraging techniques along cultural transmission chains by chimpanzees and children
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DOI：
10.1073/pnas.0606015103
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发表时间：
2006-09-12
影响因子：
11.1
通讯作者：
de Waal, Frans B. M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Horner, Victoria;Whiten, Andrew;de Waal, Frans B. M.
对野生黑猩猩（Pan troglodytes）的观察研究揭示了种群特有的行为差异，被认为代表了文化差异。实地研究也报告了表明文化学习的行为，例如婴儿密切观察成年人的技能，以及在许多代人中使用类似的觅食技术。尽管实验研究表明黑猩猩能够通过观察学习复杂的行为，但目前还不清楚这些研究与野外学习环境的模拟程度有多接近。在本研究中，我们使用了扩散链范式，即行为是通过从一个人到下一个在一个线性序列中，试图模拟代际传递的觅食技能。使用强大的三组，两个动作的方法，我们发现，用于从觅食设备获得食物的替代方法（“升降门”与“滑动门”）分别沿着六只和五只黑猩猩的两条链准确地传递，这样链中的最后一只黑猩猩使用与原始训练模型相同的方法。考虑到无模型对照组中的几个个体能够通过个体探索发现任何一种方法，每条链内的传输保真度是显著的。一项与人类儿童的比较研究显示了类似的结果。这项研究是第一个实验证明非人类灵长类动物的替代觅食技术的线性传播。我们的研究结果表明，黑猩猩有能力在多个模拟世代中维持当地的传统。
observational studies of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have revealed population-specific differences in behavior, thought to represent cultural variation. Field studies have also reported behaviors indicative of cultural learning, such as close observation of adult skills by infants, and the use of similar foraging techniques within a population over many generations. Although experimental studies have shown that chimpanzees are able to learn complex behaviors by observation, it is unclear how closely these studies simulate the learning environment found in the wild. In the present study we have used a diffusion chain paradigm, whereby a behavior is passed from one individual to the next in a linear sequence in an attempt to simulate intergenerational transmission of a foraging skill. Using a powerful three-group, two-action methodology, we found that alternative methods used to obtain food from a foraging device ("lift door" versus "slide door") were accurately transmitted along two chains of six and five chimpanzees, respectively, such that the last chimpanzee in the chain used the same method as the original trained model. The fidelity of transmission within each chain is remarkable given that several individuals in the no-model control group were able to discover either method by individual exploration. A comparative study with human children revealed similar results. This study is the first to experimentally demonstrate the linear transmission of alternative foraging techniques by non-human primates. Our results show that chimpanzees have a capacity to sustain local traditions across multiple simulated generations.