Head-cocking as a form of exploration in the common marmoset and its development

Abstract

Head-cocking of 15 infant marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) was scored from Day 1 to 60 of postnatal life, the growth period with overproduction of interneuronal synapses. Head-cocking was scored during four 30 min intervals daily, including angle of head-cocking and objects being fixated. Mean age of onset of head-cocking was Day 13 (±1.3) and frequency increased to a fixed rate by Day 24–29, at the time of maturation of the foveal representation in layer 6 of the visual cortex, thus lending further support to the importance of head-cocking to visual processing. The most common distance of objects fixated during head-cocking was up to .5 m. Angle of head-cocking increased with age, and some asymmetry of direction was noted. Fewer head-cocking events occurred in the morning than in the afternoon. We also scored anogenital licking of offspring. Head-cocking occurred at higher levels in marmosets receiving more anogenital licking. As this was associated positively with increased exploration, head-cocking may be regarded as an exploratory behavior. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 48: 551–560, 2006.