Sympathetic mouth movements accompanying fine motor movements in chimpanzees (<i>Pan troglodytes</i>) with implications toward the evolution of language

作     者：Waters, GS Fouts, RS 

作者机构：Univ New Mexico Dept Linguist Albuquerque NM 87131 USA Cent Washington Univ Chimpanzee & Human Commun Inst Ellensburg WA USA 

出 版 物：《NEUROLOGICAL RESEARCH》 (神经病学研究)

年 卷 期：2002年第24卷第2期

页      面：174-180页

核心收录：

学科分类：1002[医学-临床医学] 1001[医学-基础医学(可授医学、理学学位)] 10[医学] 

主　　题：chimpanzee evolution of language sympathetic mouth movements glottogenesis 

摘      要：Some theories concerning the evolution of language include a gestural stage prior to glottogenesis. These theories propose that connections observed between fine motor movements of the hands and mouth may be responsible for the transfer of human language from one that was primarily gestural to one that is spoken. The fine motor manipulation of objects by five captive chimpanzees was examined to determine whether sympathetic mouth movements accompanied fine and gross motor movements. Sympathetic mouth movements were observed significantly more often during fine motor manipulation for all five participants. A significant increase in the presence of sympathetic mouth movements was observed in behaviors along a continuum of precision of manipulation from precision grip to gross motor manipulation without prehension. The results are discussed in regard to current theories of language evolution and neurological processes.