Scientific Reports发表了对“狮尾狒狒”(“旧世界”猴子的一种)快速面部模仿(RFM)的观察结果。这种快速的、自动的反应此前已在人类和猩猩中观察到,但没有在非猿灵长类动物中观察到,而这项研究表明,另一种灵长类动物也能够进行这种复杂的情绪交换。
RFM是一种快速的、无意识的反应,在其中一个个体模仿另一个个体的面部表情。RFM在人类中普遍存在,它似乎反映了一个人能够体察他人情感的能力,而且它也在猩猩中被观察到。鉴于RFM被认为在社会互动中所具有的重要性,Giada Mancini、Pier Francesco Ferrari 和 Elisabetta Palagi研究了该现象是否也存在于“狮尾狒狒”(Theropithecus gelada),重点是研究在玩耍性质的互动中所做出的面部表情。作者发现,“狮尾狒狒”在玩耍时会表现出RFM,而RFM根据个体之间在遗传和情绪上的亲近程度的不同而变化。最高水平的RFM和最快的反应时间见于母亲与其婴儿之间的互动中。
这些结果显示,人类RFM的演化起源有可能源自我们灵长类近亲早期的母-婴关系。(生物谷Bioon.com)
Scientific Reports, DOI:10.1038/srep01527
Rapid Facial Mimicry In Geladas
Giada Mancini,Pier Francesco Ferrari& Elisabetta Palagi
Rapid facial mimicry (RFM) is an automatic response, in which individuals mimic others' expressions. RFM, only demonstrated in humans and apes, is grounded in the automatic perception-action coupling of sensorimotor information occurring in the mirror neuron system. In humans, RFM seems to reflect the capacity of individuals to empathize with others. Here, we demonstrated that, during play, RFM is also present in a cercopithecoid species (Theropithecus gelada). Mother-infant play sessions were not only characterized by the highest levels of RFM, but also by the fastest responses. Our findings suggest that RFM in humans have homologous not only in apes, but also in cercopitecoids. Moreover, data point to similarities in the modality in which mother-infant synchronous behaviours are expressed among primates, suggesting a common evolutionary root in the basic elements of mother-infant affective exchanges.