Modulation of physical understanding by common marmosets (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Callithrix jacchus</Emphasis>) |
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Authors: | Yumiko Yamazaki Atsushi Iriki Shigeru Watanabe |
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Institution: | (1) The Graduate School of Sociology, Keio University, 2F Mita Toho Building, 3-1-7 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0073, Japan;(2) Laboratory for Symbolic Cognitive Development, RIKEN Brain Science Institute 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan;(3) Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Keio University, 2-15-45 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8345, Japan |
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Abstract: | The understanding of physical causality in common marmosets was tested using support problems in which a pair of sheets was
presented to determine whether subjects would choose the sheet that had a food item on it (i.e., the sheet was supporting
the food item). In two experiments, the conditions were manipulated in terms of the length of the sheet, the distance between
the sheet and the food item, the presence of a gap separating the two sheets, and the size of the food item. In Experiment
1, the marmosets had difficulty rejecting an irretrievable food item when it was located closer to them than a retrievable
item. Although their performance was strongly affected by the size of the irretrievable food item, they quickly learned to
reject that alternative. In contrast, no improvement was found when one sheet was divided into two pieces such that the food
item could not be retrieved when its near side was pulled. A similar response tendency was observed in Experiment 2, in which
the effects of the large food item were examined in three different conditions. Thus, common marmosets were influenced by
the perceptual features of the food in solving the support problems, as are other non-human primates. In addition, they consistently
failed to appreciate the presence of a gap and, therefore, failed to reject the distracter alternative. However, all animals
rapidly learned that the size of the food item was an irrelevant variable, and some showed an elementary conceptual understanding
of support. These findings suggest that marmosets’ physical understanding may improve with experience. |
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