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Increased attention to snake images in cynomolgus monkeys: an eye-tracking study
Zhang, Bo; Zhou, Zhi-Gang; Zhou, Yin & Chen, Yong-Chang
Abstract
Previous studies have revealed faster detection of
snake images in humans and non-human primates
(NHPs), suggesting automatic detection of
evolutionary fear-relevant stimuli. Furthermore,
human studies have indicated that general fear-relevance
rather than evolutionary relevance is more
effective at capturing attention. However, the issue
remains unclarified in NHPs. Thus, in the present
study, we explored the attentional features of
laboratory-reared monkeys to evolutionary and
general fear-relevant stimuli (e.g., images of snakes,
capturing gloves). Eye-tracking technology was
utilized to assess attentional features as it can
provide more accurate latency and variables of
viewing duration and frequency compared with visual
search task (VST) and response latency adopted in
previous studies. In addition, those with autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) show abnormal attention to
threatening stimuli, including snake images. Rett
syndrome (RTT) is considered a subcategory of ASD
due to the display of autistic features. However, the
attentional features of RTT patients or animal models
to such stimuli remain unclear. Therefore, we also
investigated the issue in MECP2 gene-edited RTT
monkeys. The influence of different cognitive loads
on attention was further explored by presenting one,
two, or four images to increase stimulus complexity.
The eye-tracking results revealed no significant
differences between RTT and control monkeys, who
all presented increased viewing (duration and
frequency) of snake images but not of aversive
stimuli compared with control images, thus
suggesting attentional preference for evolutionary
rather than general fear-relevant visual stimuli.
Moreover, the preference was only revealed in visual
tasks composed of two or four images, suggesting its
cognitive-load dependency.
Keywords
Non-human primates; Attention; Snake; Evolutionary relevance
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