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1000
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Abstract/Summary
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Animal individuality is challenging to explain because individual differences are regulated by multiple selective forces that lead to unique combinations of characteristics. For instance, the study of personality, a core aspect of individuality, may benefit from integrating other factors underlying individual differences, such as lateralised cerebral processing. Indeed, the approach-withdrawal hypothesis (the left hemisphere controls approach behaviour, the right hemisphere controls withdrawal behaviour), may account for differences in boldness or exploration between left and right hemispheric dominant individuals. To analyse the relationships between personality and laterality we tested 80 male piglets with established laterality patterns for two motor functions (tail curling direction and the side of the snout used for manipulation) and a combined classification integrating both motor functions using cluster analysis. We analysed basal salivary testosterone and cortisol along with their behaviour in standardized tests as pre-established indicators of different personality traits (Boldness, Exploration, Activity, Sociability and Coping). We found that the direction of the single motor biases showed significant associations with few personality traits. However, the combined laterality classification showed more, and more robust, significant associations with different personality traits compared to the single motor biases. These results supported the approach-withdrawal hypothesis because right-biased pigs were bolder and more explorative in a context of novelty. Additionally, right-biased pigs were more sociable than left-biased pigs. Therefore, the present study indicates that personality is indeed related to lateralised cerebral processing and provides insight into the multifactorial nature of individuality.
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