Cortisol concentrations and the social significance of rank instability among wild baboons

@article{Sapolsky1992CortisolCA,
  title={Cortisol concentrations and the social significance of rank instability among wild baboons},
  author={R. Sapolsky},
  journal={Psychoneuroendocrinology},
  year={1992},
  volume={17},
  pages={701-709}
}
  • R. Sapolsky
  • Published 1992
  • Medicine, Psychology
  • Psychoneuroendocrinology
Previous work has shown that dominant primates in stable social hierarchies in a number of species often have low basal cortisol concentrations, relative to subordinate individuals. In contrast, this trait appears to be lost during periods of social instability, probably reflecting the psychological stressfulness of the instability. The present study examined whether basal cortisol concentrations were elevated not only when the overall hierarchy was unstable, but also were elevated in… Expand
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214 Citations

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