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From hand to mouth in the evolution of language: the influence of vocal behavior on lateralized hand use in manual gestures by chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes )
Author(s) -
Hopkins William D.,
Cantero Monica
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
developmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.801
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1467-7687
pISSN - 1363-755X
DOI - 10.1111/1467-7687.00254
Subject(s) - gesture , troglodytes , psychology , sign language , lateralization of brain function , nonverbal communication , laterality , manual communication , communication , cognitive psychology , modality (human–computer interaction) , vocal communication , speech production , human communication , neuroscience , linguistics , biology , ecology , philosophy , human–computer interaction , computer science
Studies in human subjects indicate that manual gestures accompanied by speech are produced more often by the right compared to the left hand. Additional studies indicate that the production of sign language is controlled by the same brain areas as speech, suggesting similar neurobiological substrates for language that are not modality specific. We report evidence that chimpanzees exhibit preferential use of the right hand in gestural communication. Moreover, use of the right hand in gestural communication is significantly enhanced when accompanied by a vocalization, particularly among human‐reared chimpanzees. Taken together, the data suggest that the lateralization of manual and speech systems of communication may date back as far as 5 million years ago.