Effects of chronic oxytocin on attention to dynamic facial expressions in infant macaques.

Studies in a variety of species have reported enhanced prosocial effects after an acute administration of the neuromodulating hormone, oxytocin (OT). Although the exact mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully understood, there is broad interest in developing OT into a treatment for social deficits. Only a few studies, however, have examined the effects of OT if given repeatedly during early development, the period when early intervention is likely to have the greatest benefits for reversing the progression towards social impairment.

Experience-dependent changes in the development of face preferences in infant rhesus monkeys.

It is well known that early experience shapes the development of visual perception for faces in humans. However, the effect of experience on the development of social attention in non-human primates is unknown. In two studies, we examined the effect of cumulative social experience on developmental changes in attention to the faces of unfamiliar conspecifics or heterospecifics, and mom versus an unfamiliar female.

The development of visual preferences for direct versus averted gaze faces in infant macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Human and nonhuman primates show a preference for looking at faces with direct gaze. In humans, this preference emerges shortly after birth, but little is known about the development of gaze preferences in monkeys. This study tracked the development of gaze preferences in infant monkeys from birth through 6 months of age using infrared eye-tracking.

Establishing the reliability of rhesus macaque social network assessment from video observations.

Understanding the properties of a social environment is important for understanding the dynamics of social relationships. Understanding such dynamics is relevant for multiple fields, ranging from animal behaviour to social and cognitive neuroscience. To quantify social environment properties, recent studies have incorporated social network analysis.