Experience-independent sex differences in newborn macaques: Females are more social than males

Scientific Reports
Elizabeth A SimpsonAnnika Paukner

Abstract

Human females exhibit greater social interest and skills relative to males, appearing in infancy, suggesting biological roots; however, male and female infants may be treated differently, potentially causing or amplifying sex differences. Here, we tested whether sex differences in social motivation emerge in infant monkeys (n = 48) reared in a controlled postnatal environment. Compared to males, females at 2-3 weeks looked more at conspecifics' faces (d = 0.65), especially the eyes (d = 1.09), and at 4-5 weeks exhibited more affiliative behaviors (d = 0.64), including gesturing, looking, and proximity to familiar and unfamiliar human caretakers. In sum, converging evidence from humans and monkeys suggests that female infants are more social than males in the first weeks of life, and that such differences may arise independent of postnatal experience. Individual differences in social interest have wide-ranging developmental consequences, impacting infants' social interaction quality and opportunities for learning. Understanding the evolution of sex differences and their developmental emergence is necessary to best support infants with varying levels of sociality.

References

Jun 1, 1990·Child Development·L C Mayes, A S Carter
Jul 1, 1974·The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry·J Z RubinZ Luria
Aug 1, 1982·Child Development·C Z Malatesta, J M Haviland
Mar 1, 1980·Child Development·M R Gunnar, M Donahue
Mar 1, 1995·The American Psychologist·D M Buss
Feb 1, 1996·Social Science & Medicine·S MacintyreH Sweeting
Oct 9, 1999·The Journal of Genetic Psychology·J F BenensonR Leeb
Aug 15, 2000·Psychological Review·S E TaylorJ A Updegraff
Jun 26, 2002·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Teresa FarroniMark H Johnson
Mar 18, 2003·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Simon Baron-CohenSally Wheelwright
Nov 8, 2005·Science·Simon Baron-CohenMatthew K Belmonte
Sep 29, 2006·Journal of Child Neurology·Rebecca Christine Knickmeyer, Simon Baron-Cohen
Jan 9, 2008·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·David P SchmittJüri Allik
May 3, 2008·Hormones and Behavior·Janice M HassettKim Wallen
Nov 20, 2008·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Gerianne M AlexanderRebecca Woods
Oct 13, 2009·Current Biology : CB·Pier Francesco FerrariStephen J Suomi
Sep 8, 2010·Archives of General Psychiatry·Karen PierceJamie Desmond
Aug 2, 2011·Social Science & Medicine·Anne Fausto-SterlingMeghan Lamarre
Mar 20, 2012·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Coralie ChevallierRobert T Schultz
Aug 24, 2013·Frontiers in Psychology·Maxie Gluckman, Scott P Johnson
Apr 30, 2014·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Elizabeth A SimpsonPier F Ferrari
Jun 3, 2014·Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology·Larry J Young, Donald W Pfaff
Jul 6, 2014·Developmental Science·Annika PauknerStephen J Suomi
Sep 23, 2014·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Leonardo Christov-MoorePier Francesco Ferrari
Nov 13, 2014·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Stephanie L Meredith
Sep 1, 2002·Human Nature : an Interdisciplinary Biosocial Perspective·Dario Maestripieri, Suzanne Pelka
Mar 1, 2013·International Journal of Behavioral Development·Jennifer B WagnerCharles A Nelson
Feb 3, 2016·Scientific Reports·Elizabeth A SimpsonAnnika Paukner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 24, 2016·International Journal of Psychology : Journal International De Psychologie·David P SchmittSeema H Shah
May 14, 2016·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Alexandra G RosatiLaurie R Santos
Oct 1, 2019·American Journal of Primatology·Alyssa M ArreLaurie R Santos
Jun 16, 2017·PloS One·Annika PauknerElizabeth A Simpson
Nov 23, 2017·Developmental Psychobiology·Annika PauknerAmanda M Dettmer
May 20, 2020·Developmental Psychobiology·Sarah E MaylottElizabeth A Simpson
Dec 20, 2019·PloS One·Elizabeth A SimpsonAnnika Paukner
Sep 17, 2020·Behavior Research Methods·Lydia M HopperAnnika Paukner
Nov 22, 2016·Journal of Neuroscience Research·Elizabeth V Lonsdorf
Aug 9, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Vanessa A D WilsonJulia Fischer
Nov 1, 2018·Developmental Psychobiology·Elizabeth A SimpsonLisa A Parr
Jan 26, 2021·Child Development·Sarah E MaylottElizabeth A Simpson
Jan 22, 2021·Communications Biology·Lysanne SnijdersRalf H J M Kurvers
May 29, 2018·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Tawny TsangScott P Johnson
Apr 6, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Severi Luoto, Marco Antonio Correa Varella
Mar 19, 2021·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·Michael EyreA David Edwards

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Tobii Studio

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.