Citation

Bastian ML, Sponberg AC, Sponberg AC, Suomi SJ, Higley JD. Dev. Psychobiol. 2003; 42(1): 44-51.

Affiliation

Laboratory of Clinical Studies-Primate Unit, DICBR, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health Animal Center, Poolesville, MD 20837, USA. meredith.bastian@duke.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/dev.10091

PMID

12471635

Abstract

We examined the effects of early rearing experience on the development of dominance status in 53 juvenile (age 3) and then in 38 adult (ages 5-8) rhesus macaques. Based on previous research investigating the behavioral outcomes of nursery-rearing, we predicted that mother-reared (MR) monkeys would outrank peer-only reared (PR) monkeys, which would in turn outrank surrogate/peer-reared (SPR) subjects. Juvenile MR and PR subjects did not differ in ranks, but monkeys from both rearing backgrounds outranked SPR cage-mates at age 3. Independent of rearing condition, high-ranking juveniles gained the most weight between ages 1-3, suggesting that low status may be associated with decreases in early weight gain. Adult MR subjects outranked both PR and SPR subjects, with PR animals occupying intermediate ranks. These results indicate that impoverished early experiences, such as adult absence and limited social interaction, are useful predictors of future social success in rhesus macaques.

Language: en