英美最新研究发现，预习的作用在人类“近亲”长臂猿身上存在性别差异，其对雌性长臂猿作用较大，而对雄性则没有正面效果。这项发现或许有助研究人类在学习中的性别差异。
英国阿伯泰大学研究人员和美国同行在新一期《动物认知》杂志上报告说，他们让一些长臂猿接受用工具获取食物的测试。其中一些长臂猿在测试前有机会接触测试中用到的工具，相当于提前练习，但在此期间使用工具没有任何回报；其他长臂猿则在测试时才开始接触工具，如果使用恰当就可以用它来获取食物。
结果发现，雌性长臂猿会从预习中获得很大收益，提前接触工具的雌性长臂猿在测试中成功利用工具获取食物的时间相对较短，而那些测试时才接触工具的雌性长臂猿要花3倍时间才能做到这一点。研究人员认为这是因为雌性长臂猿肩负哺育后代等职责，对陌生事物表现更为谨慎，而如果之前有过接触，就会大大缩短成功使用工具的时间。
但在雄性长臂猿中，不仅没有观察到类似效果，那些提前接触工具的雄性长臂猿在正式测试中反而经过更长时间才去拿工具并用其获取食物。这说明雄性长臂猿对已经熟悉的东西不怎么感兴趣，而更愿意尝试新鲜事物。
领导研究的克莱尔·坎宁安博士说，这是一个令人惊讶的发现，之前没有想到长臂猿在学习模式上存在如此显著的性别差异。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推荐原文出处：
Animal Cognition DOI: 10.1007/s10071-011-0380-y
A sex difference in effect of prior experience on object-mediated problem-solving in gibbons
Clare Cunningham, James Anderson and Alan Mootnick
Understanding the functionally relevant properties of objects is likely facilitated by learning with a critical role for past experience. However, current evidence is conflicting regarding the effect of prior object exposure on acquisition of object manipulation skills. This may be due to the influence of life history variables on the capacity to benefit from such experience. This study assessed effect of task-relevant object exposure on object-mediated problem-solving in 22 gibbons using a raking-in task. Despite not using tools habitually, 14 gibbons spontaneously used a rake to obtain a reward. Having prior experience with the rake in an unrewarded context did not improve learning efficiency in males. However, females benefitted significantly from the opportunity to interact with the rake before testing, with reduced latencies to solution compared to those with no previous exposure. These results reflect potential sex differences in approach to novelty that moderate the possible benefits of prior experience. Due to their relatively high energetic requirements, reproductively active females may be highly motivated to explore potential resources; however, increased investment in developing offspring could make them more guarded in their investigations. Previous exposure that allows females to learn of an object’s neutrality can offset this cautious exploration.
Keywords Gibbons – Object experience – Problem-solving – Sex differences
