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. 2018 Nov 28;13(11):e0207378.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207378. eCollection 2018.

Exploring attentional bias towards threatening faces in chimpanzees using the dot probe task

Duncan A Wilson  1 , Masaki Tomonaga  1
Affiliations

Exploring attentional bias towards threatening faces in chimpanzees using the dot probe task

Duncan A Wilson et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Primates have evolved to rapidly detect and respond to danger in their environment. However, the mechanisms involved in attending to threatening stimuli are not fully understood. The dot-probe task is one of the most widely used experimental paradigms to investigate these mechanisms in humans. However, to date, few studies have been conducted in non-human primates. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the dot-probe task can measure attentional biases towards threatening faces in chimpanzees. Eight adult chimpanzees participated in a series of touch screen dot-probe tasks. We predicted faster response times towards chimpanzee threatening faces relative to neutral faces and faster response times towards faces of high threat intensity (scream) than low threat intensity (bared teeth). Contrary to prediction, response times for chimpanzee threatening faces relative to neutral faces did not differ. In addition, we found no difference in response times for faces of high and low threat intensity. In conclusion, we found no evidence that the touch screen dot-probe task can measure attentional biases specifically towards threatening faces in our chimpanzees. Methodological limitations of using the task to measure emotional attention in human and non-human primates, including stimulus threat intensity, emotional state, stimulus presentation duration and manual responding are discussed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Schematic diagram of the dot-probe task.
(A) Experiment: Chimpanzee ‘Ai’ participating in the threatening face experiment. (B) Congruent trial: dot replaces threatening face. (C) Incongruent trial: dot replaces neutral face. Response times (ms) to touch the dot were recorded.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Mean response times (ms) for congruent and incongruent trials in (A) colour, (B) object, and (C) primate face experiments. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Mean response times (ms) for congruent and incongruent trials in the threatening face experiment.
Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Mean response times (ms) for congruent and incongruent trials in the first session of the threatening face experiment.
Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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