Federica Amici
Biographic Data
| ID | 4095662 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Federica Amici |
| GIVEN NAMES | Federica |
| FAMILY NAME | Amici |
| SIGNATURE | AMICI F |
| AFFILIATIONS | Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3539-1067 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 36 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 20 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 36 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Primate dominance hierarchies
Comprendre les causes et les conséquences des hiérarchies de dominance est l’un des principaux objectifs des études sur l’évolution sociale, la primatologie et l’anthropologie. Plusieurs théories ont été proposées au fil des ans pour expliquer les hiérarchies de dominance chez les primates, chacune faisant l’objet d’un nombre considérable de tests empiriques. Cependant, ces tests font encore l’objet de débats et manquent de cohérence quant aux fo…
Data Collection in Multimodal Language and Communication Research
Contemporary research on language and communication has expanded beyond its traditional focus on spoken and written forms to encompass signing, gestures, facial expressions, and other bodily actions. This shift has been accompanied by methodological advancements that extend beyond classical tools, such as tape recorders or video cameras, and include motion-tracking systems, depth cameras, and multimodal data-fusion techniques. Although these tool…
Collective Memory in Animals
Collective memory in humans refers to individual memories that become shared within a community and contribute to social identity, coordination, and cultural continuity. Extensive research shows that collective memory emerges through language‐mediated interaction, social influence, and distributed cognitive mechanisms, supporting cooperation, decision‐making, and cultural transmission. While these processes are well documented in humans, it remai…
Gestural Communication in a Wild Population of Moor Macaques (Macaca maura) in South Sulawesi
Gestures are one of the key components of primate communication and have been proposed to be important precursors of intentional communication and human language. Understanding how gestural communication varies across primate taxa is therefore important for reconstructing the evolutionary origins of intentional communication and making inferences about its socio-ecological drivers. In this study, we investigated gesture use in moor macaques ( Mac…
Evidence of Vocal Gradation in the Vocal Repertoire of Wild Moor Macaques ( Macaca maura )
Nonhuman primates constitute an ideal model to study the evolutionary origins of human language, because of their close phylogenetic distance to humans and their reliance on complex communication systems that include different signal types. In this study, we investigated the vocal repertoire of Macaca maura (moor macaques), a highly tolerant primate species endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. We conducted detailed acoustic analyses on 1116 high‐quali…
Behavioral Contagion in Wild Ecuadorian White‐Fronted Capuchins ( Cebus aequatorialis )
Behavioral contagion is spread across animal species and is thought to promote social cohesion and group synchronization. While yawn contagion has been extensively studied, scratch contagion remains comparatively under‐researched, particularly in wild populations. We investigated whether yawn and scratch contagion occurred in a wild group of Ecuadorian white‐fronted capuchins ( Cebus aequatorialis , N = 16) at La Hesperia Cloud Forest Reserve in …
Gestural Sequences in Wild Spider Monkeys ( Ateles geoffroyi )
To date, research on gestural communication in species other than great apes has been quite limited, especially in their natural habitat, although including a broader range of species in different settings is essential for identifying evolutionary patterns and determining whether some of the fundamental characteristics of human communication are widely shared across primates. In this study, we specifically aimed to explore the use of gestural seq…
Continuous Audio‐Visual Sensor Monitoring Is More Effective Than Human Observers for Detecting Moor Macaques
The number of species threatened with extinction is continuously increasing, underscoring the need for reliable population estimates to develop effective conservation plans. The ability to confirm a species' presence during surveys (i.e., detectability) is central for population estimates. While audio‐visual sensors, like camera traps and passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), have emerged as valuable tools for monitoring primates, few studies have s…
In Search for a Dialectical Methodology in Neuropsychology
Neuroscience is increasingly assuming a leading role within modern psychology ( Maiers, 2008 ). By establishing a monist materialist worldview it overcomes the historically predominant idealism of psychoanalysis ( Vygotsky, 1986 , p. 225). However, many neuropsychological approaches come along with different methodological setbacks, including the widespread assumption of mechanism ( Nigrini et al., 2025 ). Some lines of investigation adopt a dial…
Multiparous and primiparous mothers partially differ in how they allocate maternal behaviour in captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
In primates, mothers are crucial for the survival and integration of young offspring into their social group. Usually, mothers adjust their behaviour to the offspring’s age and needs, but maternal experience might modulate developmental changes in such allocation. In this study, we conducted behavioural observations on 7 mother-offspring dyads of captive western lowland gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla ) to assess whether multiparous mothers ad…
Multimodal Learning Has an Impact on Conservation Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavioral Intentions Towards Spider Monkeys in Mayan Children From Punta Laguna, Yucatán
Conservation education activities employing multimodal knowledge transmission, including art‐based workshops, are a multidisciplinary tool that can be used to raise awareness of the natural environment in which we live. In this study, we implemented a conservation education workshop that combined different forms of knowledge transmission, to promote pro‐environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions towards spider monkeys and their…
Initiation of Affiliative Interactions and Visual Engagement During Mother-Infant Interactions in Humans, Great Apes and Small Apes
Maternal care is crucial for primate offspring development, particularly in species with prolonged developmental periods, such as humans and other primates. In this study, we used a cross-species and developmental approach to assess the role of mothers and infants in initiating bouts of affiliation (i.e., proximity and grooming) and visual engagement (i.e., unidirectional and mutual gaze) in humans (N = 10), great apes (N = 18) and small apes (N …
Flexibility of Gestural Production in Captive Groups of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), Sumatran Orangutans (Pongo abelii), and Siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus)
Across species, communication systems may differ in their levels of flexibility, but comparisons are challenging, because flexibility is not operationalized in a consistent way. In this study, we investigated different aspects of flexibility in the gestural communication systems of 7 groups of captive apes (N = 53), including 19 chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ), 16 Sumatran orangutans ( Pongo abelii ), and 18 siamangs ( Symphalangus syndactylus ).…
Sleeping Site Selection in a Wild Group of Moor Macaques (Macaca maura) in Sulawesi
In primates, sleeping behaviour and the selection of sleeping sites with specific characteristics are hypothesised to represent adaptative strategies to diverse evolutionary pressures within their habitats. However, for many species, it remains unclear how these factors influence the selection of sleeping sites. We examined the impact of range defence, predator-, risk-, and parasite-avoidance on the sleeping behaviour and choice of specific sleep…
A Comparison between the Methodology of the Mainstream in (Neuro-)Psychology, Holzkamp’s and Vygotsky’s Approach
The present paper treats the issue of methodological assumptions in mainstream neuropsychology and, as counter-concepts, in Vygotsky’s approach and Holzkamp’s critical psychology. The analysis identifies four main assumptions concerning the methodology of mainstream neuropsychology, which are contrasted with the positions of other approaches. The methodologies of the mainstream neuropsychology vs. Holzkamp’s and Vygotsky’s approach assume: (1) me…
Applying the human component model of parenting to other primates
The component model of human parenting has been extensively used to study parents’ interactions with their offspring and to examine variation across cultural contexts. The current study applies this model to nonhuman primates to investigate which forms of parenting humans share with other primates and how these interactions change over infants’ first year of life. We repeatedly observed 52 mother-infant pairs, including humans ( N = 11), chimpanz…
Compositionality in Primate Gestural Communication and Multicomponent Signal Displays
Compositionality is the ability to combine meaningful elements into new combinations with novel meanings, and it has long been considered one of the main hallmarks of human communication. However, very few studies have addressed the compositional aspects of communication in species other than humans, although a comparative approach is essential to understand the evolutionary origins of human compositionality. We review previous research on compos…
Moor Macaques (Macaca maura) Remember Earlier Habituation Despite Changes in Group Composition
Habituation, in which repeated neutral contacts with human observers lead to reduced, and eventually no, response by primates, is commonly used to study animals in the wild (Williamson & Feistner, 2011).Understanding how habituation affects animal behaviour is important to better evaluate its ethical implications and to improve habituation methods.The time needed to successfully habituate study animals depends on several factors, including their …
Beyond the Canopy
Play is a multifunctional behavior that may confer different advantages depending on the context, the species, sex, and age of the players. Despite numerous studies of social play in primates, we know little about this behavior in platyrrhines. This study was designed to provide a systematic description of social play in a wild group of Geoffroy’s spider monkeys ( Ateles geoffroyi ). We conducted behavioral observations of acrobatic social play, …
Vigilance has mainly a social function in a wild group of spider monkeys ( Ateles geoffroyi )
Vigilance is a widespread behavior that allows individuals to socially acquire information and/or effectively detect potential risks posed by predators and conspecifics. In this study, we aimed to investigate how social factors (i.e., subgroup size, number of males and immatures in the subgroup, presence of fission and fusion events, subgroup activity), individual characteristics (i.e., sex, presence of dependent offspring) and possible vulnerabi…
Maternal and offspring behavior in free‐ranging Japanese and moor macaques
Female primates represent the most important social partner for their developing offspring. However, mothers may strongly differ in the way they relate to their offspring (e.g., in terms of two different dimensions: protectiveness and rejection). In this study, we aimed to assess how dominance style predicts (i) changes in maternal behavior through offspring development, and (ii) the link between maternal behavior and offspring behavior. We condu…
Mother’s Age and Social Integration Modulate Sex-biased Maternal Investment in Wild Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi)
In many mammal species, mothers are crucial for the survival and development of young offspring. In primates, maternal investment may ensure immatures’ survival and also foster their social integration in the group, providing long-term fitness benefits. In this study, we analysed maternal investment in a wild group (N = 49) of male philopatric spider monkeys ( Ateles geoffroyi ). We assessed whether maternal investment is biased toward sons (comp…
Testing Hypotheses for the Emergence of Gestural Communication in Great and Small Apes (Pan troglodytes, Pongo abelii, Symphalangus syndactylus)
Gestural communication is crucial for primates. However, little is known about how gestural repertoires emerge through development. We conducted behavioural observations on captive apes, including 18 siamangs ( Symphalangus syndactylus ), 16 Sumatran orangutans ( Pongo abelii ), and 19 chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ), to test different hypotheses for the emergence of gestures (i.e., Phylogenetic Ritualization, Ontogenetic Ritualization, Social Ne…
Cognitive enrichment in a social setting
Foraging devices are effective enrichment tools for non-human primates, as they provide both cognitive and manipulative stimulation that may enhance these animals’ welfare. We assessed the behavioral effects of a novel tool-based enrichment on 14 chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) housed at Fundació Mona (Girona, Spain). The device consisted of a vertical maze filled with food rewards, which chimpanzees could extract by using tools. We conducted beh…
Maternal stress, child behavior and the promotive role of older siblings
Overall, our results confirm the negative effects that maternal stress during pregnancy may have on the offspring, and suggest an important main effect of older siblings in promoting a positive child development
Reaction to Snakes in Wild Moor Macaques (Macaca maura)
Snake predation is considered an important evolutionary force for primates. Yet, very few studies have documented encounters between primates and snakes in the wild. Here, we provide a preliminary account of how wild moor macaques ( Macaca maura ) respond to seven species of real and model snakes. Snakes could be local and dangerous to the macaques (i.e., venomous or constricting), local and nondangerous, and novel and dangerous. Macaques reacted…
Compositionality in Primate Gestural Communication and Multicomponent Signal Displays
Compositionality is the ability to combine meaningful elements into new combinations with novel meanings, and it has long been considered one of the main hallmarks of human communication. However, very few studies have addressed the compositional aspects of communication in species other than humans, although a comparative approach is essential to understand the evolutionary origins of human compositionality. We review previous research on compos…
The Habituation Process in Two Groups of Wild Moor Macaques (Macaca maura)
When studying animal behavior in the wild, some behaviors may require observation from a relatively short distance. In these cases, habituation is commonly used to ensure that animals do not perceive researchers as a direct threat and do not alter their behavior in their presence. However, habituation can have significant effects on the welfare and conservation of the animals. Studying how nonhuman primates react to the process of habituation can…
Effect of Anthropogenic Activities on the Population of Moor Macaques (Macaca maura) in South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Forest loss due to anthropogenic activities is one of the main causes of plant and animal species decline. Studying the species’ population status (i.e., density, abundance, and geographic distribution) on a regular basis is one of the main tools to assess the effect of anthropogenic activities on wildlife, to monitor population dynamics and to intervene with effective conservation strategies when the population of an endangered species declines.…
Sex Differences in the Development of Social Relationships in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Sex Differences in the Development of Aggressive Behavior in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)
A Comparison between the Methodology of the Mainstream in (Neuro-)Psychology, Holzkamp’s and Vygotsky’s Approach
The present paper treats the issue of methodological assumptions in mainstream neuropsychology and, as counter-concepts, in Vygotsky’s approach and Holzkamp’s critical psychology. The analysis identifies four main assumptions concerning the methodology of mainstream neuropsychology, which are contrasted with the positions of other approaches. The methodologies of the mainstream neuropsychology vs. Holzkamp’s and Vygotsky’s approach assume: (1) me…
Monkeys and apes
Differences in cognitive skills across taxa, and between monkeys and apes in particular, have been explained by different hypotheses, although these often are not supported by systematic interspecific comparisons. Here, we directly compared the cognitive performance of the four great apes and three monkey species (spider monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and long‐tailed macaques), differing in their phylogenetic‐relatedness and socioecology. We tested s…
Calculated reciprocity? A comparative test with six primate species
Response facilitation in the four great apes
Sex Differences in the Development of Social Relationships in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Sex Differences in the Development of Aggressive Behavior in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Play behavior in immature moor macaques ( Macaca maura ) and Japanese macaques ( Macaca fuscata )
Play is widespread across mammalian taxa, but species strongly vary in the ways they play. In less despotic primate species (i.e., with less steep dominance hierarchies, less severe conflicts, and more reconciliation), play has been described as being more frequent, cooperative, and freely expressed. To study the link between social play and dominance style, we compared play behavior in free‐ranging infants, juveniles and subadults of more despot…
The effect of individual and food characteristics on food retrieval and food sharing in captive Guinea baboons ( Papio papio )
Access to food is of major importance to the fitness and survival of every individual, particularly in group‐living animals, in which individual characteristics and food distribution can affect food intake. Additionally, several species of primates are known to share food under certain conditions. Such unresisted transfer of food from one individual to another appears to be adaptive, for instance as a tool to maintain and reinforce social bonds. …
Reaction to Snakes in Wild Moor Macaques (Macaca maura)
Snake predation is considered an important evolutionary force for primates. Yet, very few studies have documented encounters between primates and snakes in the wild. Here, we provide a preliminary account of how wild moor macaques ( Macaca maura ) respond to seven species of real and model snakes. Snakes could be local and dangerous to the macaques (i.e., venomous or constricting), local and nondangerous, and novel and dangerous. Macaques reacted…
The Function of Mounts in Free-Ranging Barbary Macaques (Macaca sylvanus)
Generally, nonreproductive sex is thought to act as “social grease,” facilitating peaceful coexistence between subjects that lack close genetic ties. However, specifc nonreproductive sexual behaviors may fulfill different functions. With this study, we aimed to test whether nonreproductive mounts in Barbary macaques are used to 1) assert dominance, 2) reinforce social relationships, and/or 3) solve conflicts. We analyzed nonreproductive mounts ( …
Cognitive enrichment in a social setting
Foraging devices are effective enrichment tools for non-human primates, as they provide both cognitive and manipulative stimulation that may enhance these animals’ welfare. We assessed the behavioral effects of a novel tool-based enrichment on 14 chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) housed at Fundació Mona (Girona, Spain). The device consisted of a vertical maze filled with food rewards, which chimpanzees could extract by using tools. We conducted beh…
Maternal stress, child behavior and the promotive role of older siblings
Overall, our results confirm the negative effects that maternal stress during pregnancy may have on the offspring, and suggest an important main effect of older siblings in promoting a positive child development
Effect of Anthropogenic Activities on the Population of Moor Macaques (Macaca maura) in South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Forest loss due to anthropogenic activities is one of the main causes of plant and animal species decline. Studying the species’ population status (i.e., density, abundance, and geographic distribution) on a regular basis is one of the main tools to assess the effect of anthropogenic activities on wildlife, to monitor population dynamics and to intervene with effective conservation strategies when the population of an endangered species declines.…
The Habituation Process in Two Groups of Wild Moor Macaques (Macaca maura)
When studying animal behavior in the wild, some behaviors may require observation from a relatively short distance. In these cases, habituation is commonly used to ensure that animals do not perceive researchers as a direct threat and do not alter their behavior in their presence. However, habituation can have significant effects on the welfare and conservation of the animals. Studying how nonhuman primates react to the process of habituation can…
Vigilance has mainly a social function in a wild group of spider monkeys ( Ateles geoffroyi )
Vigilance is a widespread behavior that allows individuals to socially acquire information and/or effectively detect potential risks posed by predators and conspecifics. In this study, we aimed to investigate how social factors (i.e., subgroup size, number of males and immatures in the subgroup, presence of fission and fusion events, subgroup activity), individual characteristics (i.e., sex, presence of dependent offspring) and possible vulnerabi…
Maternal and offspring behavior in free‐ranging Japanese and moor macaques
Female primates represent the most important social partner for their developing offspring. However, mothers may strongly differ in the way they relate to their offspring (e.g., in terms of two different dimensions: protectiveness and rejection). In this study, we aimed to assess how dominance style predicts (i) changes in maternal behavior through offspring development, and (ii) the link between maternal behavior and offspring behavior. We condu…
Mother’s Age and Social Integration Modulate Sex-biased Maternal Investment in Wild Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi)
In many mammal species, mothers are crucial for the survival and development of young offspring. In primates, maternal investment may ensure immatures’ survival and also foster their social integration in the group, providing long-term fitness benefits. In this study, we analysed maternal investment in a wild group (N = 49) of male philopatric spider monkeys ( Ateles geoffroyi ). We assessed whether maternal investment is biased toward sons (comp…
Testing Hypotheses for the Emergence of Gestural Communication in Great and Small Apes (Pan troglodytes, Pongo abelii, Symphalangus syndactylus)
Gestural communication is crucial for primates. However, little is known about how gestural repertoires emerge through development. We conducted behavioural observations on captive apes, including 18 siamangs ( Symphalangus syndactylus ), 16 Sumatran orangutans ( Pongo abelii ), and 19 chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ), to test different hypotheses for the emergence of gestures (i.e., Phylogenetic Ritualization, Ontogenetic Ritualization, Social Ne…
Applying the human component model of parenting to other primates
The component model of human parenting has been extensively used to study parents’ interactions with their offspring and to examine variation across cultural contexts. The current study applies this model to nonhuman primates to investigate which forms of parenting humans share with other primates and how these interactions change over infants’ first year of life. We repeatedly observed 52 mother-infant pairs, including humans ( N = 11), chimpanz…
Compositionality in Primate Gestural Communication and Multicomponent Signal Displays
Compositionality is the ability to combine meaningful elements into new combinations with novel meanings, and it has long been considered one of the main hallmarks of human communication. However, very few studies have addressed the compositional aspects of communication in species other than humans, although a comparative approach is essential to understand the evolutionary origins of human compositionality. We review previous research on compos…
Moor Macaques (Macaca maura) Remember Earlier Habituation Despite Changes in Group Composition
Habituation, in which repeated neutral contacts with human observers lead to reduced, and eventually no, response by primates, is commonly used to study animals in the wild (Williamson & Feistner, 2011).Understanding how habituation affects animal behaviour is important to better evaluate its ethical implications and to improve habituation methods.The time needed to successfully habituate study animals depends on several factors, including their …
Beyond the Canopy
Play is a multifunctional behavior that may confer different advantages depending on the context, the species, sex, and age of the players. Despite numerous studies of social play in primates, we know little about this behavior in platyrrhines. This study was designed to provide a systematic description of social play in a wild group of Geoffroy’s spider monkeys ( Ateles geoffroyi ). We conducted behavioral observations of acrobatic social play, …
Multiparous and primiparous mothers partially differ in how they allocate maternal behaviour in captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
In primates, mothers are crucial for the survival and integration of young offspring into their social group. Usually, mothers adjust their behaviour to the offspring’s age and needs, but maternal experience might modulate developmental changes in such allocation. In this study, we conducted behavioural observations on 7 mother-offspring dyads of captive western lowland gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla ) to assess whether multiparous mothers ad…
Multimodal Learning Has an Impact on Conservation Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavioral Intentions Towards Spider Monkeys in Mayan Children From Punta Laguna, Yucatán
Conservation education activities employing multimodal knowledge transmission, including art‐based workshops, are a multidisciplinary tool that can be used to raise awareness of the natural environment in which we live. In this study, we implemented a conservation education workshop that combined different forms of knowledge transmission, to promote pro‐environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions towards spider monkeys and their…
Initiation of Affiliative Interactions and Visual Engagement During Mother-Infant Interactions in Humans, Great Apes and Small Apes
Maternal care is crucial for primate offspring development, particularly in species with prolonged developmental periods, such as humans and other primates. In this study, we used a cross-species and developmental approach to assess the role of mothers and infants in initiating bouts of affiliation (i.e., proximity and grooming) and visual engagement (i.e., unidirectional and mutual gaze) in humans (N = 10), great apes (N = 18) and small apes (N …
Flexibility of Gestural Production in Captive Groups of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), Sumatran Orangutans (Pongo abelii), and Siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus)
Across species, communication systems may differ in their levels of flexibility, but comparisons are challenging, because flexibility is not operationalized in a consistent way. In this study, we investigated different aspects of flexibility in the gestural communication systems of 7 groups of captive apes (N = 53), including 19 chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ), 16 Sumatran orangutans ( Pongo abelii ), and 18 siamangs ( Symphalangus syndactylus ).…
Primate Behavior and Ecology (29 works) · Biology (21 works) · Psychology (21 works) · Animal ecology (18 works) · Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior (17 works) · Zoology (14 works) · Developmental psychology (13 works) · Animal Behavior and Reproduction (12 works) · Ecology (11 works) · Child and Animal Learning Development (10 works)