Laterality of hand function in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella): Comparison between tool use actions and spontaneous non-tool actions

This study examined hand preference for tool use and spontaneous non-tool actions in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). We noted a lack of lateral bias across measures, and greater strength of hand preference for tool use than for self-directed or feeding activities. Animals that used tools exhibited a population-level right-hand bias for self-touching whereas animals that did not use tools exhibited a lack of lateral bias for this measure. Our findings are consistent with views that hand preference is expressed more strongly for tool use than for non-tool activities, and that lateral bias for self-directed behavior is related to problem-solving skills in primates.