Abstract
A face-to-face configuration and eye-to-eye contact are considered a basis for intersubjectivity, as they create a situation in which interactants are mutually attentive. Studies in humans have shown that the face-to-face configuration establishes active engagement by interactants in subsequent interactions, but it is not clear whether a similar function exists in non-human animals. Using data from a group of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), this study compared dyadic play fighting sessions preceded and not preceded by a face-to-face configuration. During play fighting, players compete to gain an advantage over their playmates by attacking them unilaterally (i.e., attacking them without being attacked or pinning them to the ground). Defining the inter-player asymmetry of active engagement in play in terms of the difference in the duration of each individual’s advantage over the other, we found that asymmetry was lower in play bouts with a face-to-face beginning than in play bouts without one. Additionally, in play bouts not preceded by a face-to-face configuration, individuals who faced their partner at the onset of play unilaterally attacked their partner for a significantly longer duration than did those who did not face their partner at the onset of play. Conversely, in play bouts preceded by a face-to-face configuration, there was no difference in the duration of unilateral attacks. Overall, our results indicated that the face-to-face configuration in Japanese macaques functions as a platform to establish mutual engagement by interactors and enhances symmetry within play interaction.
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This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas No. 30172894 (“The Evolutionary Origin and Neural Basis of the Empathetic Systems”) to the second author.
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The first and second authors conceived and designed the study. The first author gathered the data, performed the statistical analyses, and wrote the article.
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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. We conducted this study following the guidelines of the Animal Experiment Committee of the University of Tokyo. This study was approved by the Animal Experiment Committee of the University of Tokyo (Permission number 28–3).
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Iki, S., Hasegawa, T. Face-to-face configuration in Japanese macaques functions as a platform to establish mutual engagement in social play. Anim Cogn 24, 1179–1189 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01508-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01508-1