研究人员发现，利用触摸屏电脑给黑冠猕猴提供认知挑战，已经提高了这群猴子的凝聚力，并缓解了它们的压力，同时增加了它们之间的友好行为
猴子们可以选择同类展示不同面部表情的图片和视频
科学家打算利用他们对猴子的社会行为的了解，来确定参与这些研究是否对它们的健康有影响科学家打算利用他们对猴子的社会行为的了解，来确定参与这些研究是否对它们的健康有影响
据国外媒体11月7日报道，科研人员对英国汉普郡马尔威尔野生动物园(Marwell Wildlife)的一群黑冠猕猴进行研究，发现利用触摸屏电脑能让这群猴子得到放松。与触摸屏互动不仅有趣、具有挑战性，而且能让具有统治地位的猴子忙碌起来，这反映出野外生活，并能缓解社会压力。
朴茨茅斯大学的科学家教这群十分珍稀的猴子如何操作电脑触摸屏，以便他们进行研究，了解这些动物的认知和交流情况。研究人员发现，利用触摸屏电脑给黑冠猕猴提供认知挑战，已经提高了这群猴子的凝聚力，并缓解了社会压力，同时增加了它们之间的友好行为。
该研究的负责人、这所大学心理学系的杰米-怀特霍斯说：“在模拟野外环境下，经常是一只孤独的猴子离开群体一会儿，稍后再返回。而在马尔威尔野生动物园，通常都是具有统治地位的黑冠猕猴离开群体，去玩触摸屏电脑，留下其他猴子享受一会没有头领管束的轻松时光。”同人类和很多其他灵长类动物一样，猕猴有着非常复杂的社会互动。据发表在《公共科学图书馆—综合》（PLOS综合）上的该研究称，印尼土生土长的黑冠猕猴使用深奥微妙的交流方法，依靠很多不同的面部表情、身体姿势和声音来表达它们的意思。
怀特霍斯说：“我们可以借助我们对它们的社会行为的了解，来确定参与这些研究是否会对它们的健康有影响。”该研究显示，具有统治地位的个体离开猴群时，其他猕猴“砸吧嘴”的行为增多了，此时它们会撅起嘴巴，嘴唇快速开、合。他说：“这种行为是猕猴之间的一种友好表示，它们借助这种行为来维持它们的社会关系。‘砸吧嘴’的行为在我们的研究期间增多，表明我们的科研活动正在对这个群体产生积极影响。”猕猴生活在它们的社会群体中，可以自由进入一个与研究人员隔开的专用研究区域。它们只要愿意，随时可以离开这里，重回它们的小群体。猕猴参与研究时，会得到一些食物馈赠——少量有益健康的美味小吃。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推荐的英文摘要
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.
