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Author Beran, M.J.
Title Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) succeed on a computerized test designed to assess conservation of discrete quantity Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Animal Cognition Abbreviated Journal Anim. Cogn.
Volume 10 Issue 1 Pages 37-45
Keywords Animals; *Cognition; *Judgment; Macaca mulatta/*psychology; Male; Mathematics; *Pattern Recognition, Visual; Uncertainty
Abstract Conservation of quantity occurs through recognition that changes in the physical arrangement of a set of items do not change the quantity of items in that set. Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were presented with a computerized quantity judgment task. Monkeys were rewarded for selecting the greater quantity of items in one of two horizontal arrays of items on the screen. On some trials, after a correct selection, no reward was given but one of the arrays was manipulated. In some cases, this manipulation involved moving items closer together or farther apart to change the physical arrangement of the array without changing the quantity of items in the array. In other cases, additional items were added to the initially smaller array so that it became quantitatively larger. Monkeys then made another selection from the two rows of items. Monkeys were sensitive to these manipulations, changing their selections when the number of items in the rows changed but not when the arrangement only was changed. Therefore, monkeys responded on the basis of the quantity of items, and they were not distracted by non-quantitative manipulations of the sets.
Address Language Research Center, Georgia State University, 3401 Panthersville Road, Decatur, GA 30034, USA. mjberan@yahoo.com
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1435-9448 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:16868737 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2455
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Author Beran, M.J.; Smith, J.D.; Redford, J.S.; Washburn, D.A.
Title Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) monitor uncertainty during numerosity judgments Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Journal of Experimental Psychology. Animal Behavior Processes Abbreviated Journal J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process
Volume 32 Issue 2 Pages 111-119
Keywords Animals; *Cognition; *Judgment; Macaca mulatta/*psychology; Male; Mathematics; *Pattern Recognition, Visual; *Uncertainty
Abstract Two rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) judged arrays of dots on a computer screen as having more or fewer dots than a center value that was never presented in trials. After learning a center value, monkeys were given an uncertainty response that let them decline to make the numerosity judgment on that trial. Across center values (3-7), errors occurred most often for sets adjacent in numerosity to the center value. The monkeys also used the uncertainty response most frequently on these difficult trials. A 2nd experiment showed that monkeys' responses reflected numerical magnitude and not the surface-area illumination of the displays. This research shows that monkeys' uncertainty-monitoring capacity extends to the domain of numerical cognition. It also shows monkeys' use of the purest uncertainty response possible, uncontaminated by any secondary motivator.
Address Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, 30302, USA. mjberan@yahoo.com
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0097-7403 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:16634654 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2762
Permanent link to this record