The proposal covers tow broad areas: infant care and infant behavioral development in cooperatively breeding monkeys, and the ontogeny of vocal communication in the same species. In a longitudinal study of ten families (5 newly formed and 5 established families) we will use non- invasive methods for measuring hormonal changes (estrogen, cortisol, prolactin and testosterone) in mothers, fathers and other helpers during late pregnancy and after the birth of infants. The hormonal data will be correlated with direct observations on the amount and quality of infant care. By comparing new parents with well-established parents we will determine how quality of caretaking changes with experience, and what, if any, hormonal correlates exist. We will determine the role of infants in affecting the care they receive and will determine the role of early hormonal environment, sex, and social interactions on infant social and physical development. Experimental studies will determine if males can detect when their mates are pregnant and if there is long-term olfactory recognition of familiar, but separated, relatives. Three models of vocal development will be pursued: the development of food-associated calls in cotton-top tamarins and pygmy marmoset, the """"""""babbling"""""""" of pygmy marmoset infants and its relationship to vocal production and vocal usage, and changes in call structure occurring with changes in social environment. Complementary studies on vocal communication and social interactions will be carried out on wild monkeys in the field. The results should provide a better understanding of the factors involved in successful infant care in cooperatively breeding species and should contribute to our understanding of the evolution of vocal communication. These species have social systems much more similar to human families than most other primate species, and the results of these studies should increase our understanding of factors affecting successful development of human infants.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Award (K05)
Project #
2K05MH000177-21
Application #
2411190
Study Section
Psychobiology, Behavior, and Neuroscience Review Committee (PBN)
Project Start
1977-09-01
Project End
2000-04-30
Budget Start
1997-09-01
Budget End
1998-04-30
Support Year
21
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715