研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn),，利用觸摸屏電腦給黑冠獼猴提供認(rèn)知挑戰(zhàn)，已經(jīng)提高了這群猴子的凝聚力,，并緩解了它們的壓力，同時增加了它們之間的友好行為
猴子們可以選擇同類展示不同面部表情的圖片和視頻
科學(xué)家打算利用他們對猴子的社會行為的了解,，來確定參與這些研究是否對它們的健康有影響科學(xué)家打算利用他們對猴子的社會行為的了解,，來確定參與這些研究是否對它們的健康有影響
據(jù)國外媒體11月7日報道，科研人員對英國漢普郡馬爾威爾野生動物園(Marwell Wildlife)的一群黑冠獼猴進(jìn)行研究,，發(fā)現(xiàn)利用觸摸屏電腦能讓這群猴子得到放松,。與觸摸屏互動不僅有趣、具有挑戰(zhàn)性,，而且能讓具有統(tǒng)治地位的猴子忙碌起來,，這反映出野外生活，并能緩解社會壓力,。
樸茨茅斯大學(xué)的科學(xué)家教這群十分珍稀的猴子如何操作電腦觸摸屏,，以便他們進(jìn)行研究,，了解這些動物的認(rèn)知和交流情況。研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn),，利用觸摸屏電腦給黑冠獼猴提供認(rèn)知挑戰(zhàn),，已經(jīng)提高了這群猴子的凝聚力，并緩解了社會壓力,，同時增加了它們之間的友好行為,。
該研究的負(fù)責(zé)人、這所大學(xué)心理學(xué)系的杰米-懷特霍斯說：“在模擬野外環(huán)境下,，經(jīng)常是一只孤獨的猴子離開群體一會兒,，稍后再返回。而在馬爾威爾野生動物園,，通常都是具有統(tǒng)治地位的黑冠獼猴離開群體,，去玩觸摸屏電腦，留下其他猴子享受一會沒有頭領(lǐng)管束的輕松時光,。”同人類和很多其他靈長類動物一樣,，獼猴有著非常復(fù)雜的社會互動。據(jù)發(fā)表在《公共科學(xué)圖書館—綜合》（PLOS綜合）上的該研究稱,，印尼土生土長的黑冠獼猴使用深奧微妙的交流方法,，依靠很多不同的面部表情、身體姿勢和聲音來表達(dá)它們的意思,。
懷特霍斯說：“我們可以借助我們對它們的社會行為的了解,，來確定參與這些研究是否會對它們的健康有影響。”該研究顯示,，具有統(tǒng)治地位的個體離開猴群時,，其他獼猴“砸吧嘴”的行為增多了，此時它們會撅起嘴巴,，嘴唇快速開,、合。他說：“這種行為是獼猴之間的一種友好表示,，它們借助這種行為來維持它們的社會關(guān)系,。‘砸吧嘴’的行為在我們的研究期間增多，表明我們的科研活動正在對這個群體產(chǎn)生積極影響,。”獼猴生活在它們的社會群體中,，可以自由進(jìn)入一個與研究人員隔開的專用研究區(qū)域。它們只要愿意,，隨時可以離開這里,，重回它們的小群體。獼猴參與研究時,，會得到一些食物饋贈——少量有益健康的美味小吃,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦的英文摘要
PLoS One doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0078308
The Impact of Cognitive Testing on the Welfare of Group Housed Primates
Jamie Whitehouse mail,， Jerome Micheletta， Lauren E. Powell,， Celia Bordier,， Bridget M. Waller
Providing cognitive challenges to zoo-housed animals may provide enriching effects and subsequently enhance their welfare. Primates may benefit most from such challenges as they often face complex problems in their natural environment and can be observed to seek problem solving opportunities in captivity. However， the extent to which welfare benefits can be achieved through programmes developed primarily for cognitive research is unknown. We tested the impact of voluntary participation cognitive testing on the welfare of a socially housed group of crested macaques (Macaca nigra) at the Macaque Study Centre (Marwell Zoo). First,， we compared the rate of self-directed and social behaviours on testing and non-testing days,， and between conditions within testing days. Minimal differences in behaviour were found when comparing testing and non-testing days， suggesting that there was no negative impact on welfare as a result of cognitive testing. Lipsmacking behaviours were found to increase and aggressive interaction was found to decrease in the group as a result of testing. Second,， social network analysis was used to assess the effect of testing on associations and interactions between individuals. The social networks showed that testing subjects increased their association with others during testing days. One interpretation of this finding could be that providing socially housed primates with an opportunity for individuals to separate from the group for short periods could help mimic natural patterns of sub-group formation and reunion in captivity. The findings suggest,， therefore， that the welfare of captive primates can be improved through the use of cognitive testing in zoo environments.
