Strategic navigation of two-dimensional alley mazes: comparing capuchin monkeys and chimpanzees |
| |
Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">D?FragaszyEmail author J?Johnson-Pynn E?Hirsh K?Brakke |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA,;(2) Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA,;(3) Present address: Department of Psychology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA 30149, USA,;(4) Present address: Department of Anthropology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA,;(5) Present address: Department of Psychology, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA, |
| |
Abstract: | Planning is an important component of cognition that contributes, for example, to efficient movement through space. In the
current study we presented novel two-dimensional alley mazes to four chimpanzees and three capuchin monkeys to identify the
nature and efficiency of planning in relation to varying task parameters. All the subjects solved more mazes without error
than expected by chance, providing compelling evidence that both species planned their choices in some manner. The probability
of making a correct choice on mazes designed to be more demanding and presented later in the testing series was higher than
on earlier, simpler mazes (chimpanzees), or unchanged (capuchin monkeys), suggesting microdevelopment of strategic choice.
Structural properties of the mazes affected both species' choices. Capuchin monkeys were less likely than chimpanzees to take
a correct path that initially led away from the goal but that eventually led to the goal. Chimpanzees were more likely to
make an error by passing a correct path than by turning onto a wrong path. Chimpanzees and one capuchin made more errors on
choices farther in sequence from the goal. Each species corrected errors before running into the end of an alley in approximately
40% of cases. Together, these findings suggest nascent planning abilities in each species, and the prospect for significant
development of strategic planning capabilities on tasks presenting multiple simultaneous or sequential spatial relations.
The computerized maze paradigm appears well suited to investigate movement planning and spatial perception in human and nonhuman
primates alike. |
| |
Keywords: | Planning Spatial relations Sequential actions Nonhuman primates Microdevelopment |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|