Fragaszy, D. M., & Visalberghi E. (1989). Social influences on the acquisition of tool-using behaviors in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). J. Comp. Psychol., 103(2), 159–170.
Abstract: To identify behaviors related to acquisition of tool-use in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella), we presented two tool-using tasks to two groups, extending findings by Westergaard and Fragaszy (1987) and Visalberghi (in press). Five Ss learned to use the tools in each task. The primary predictor of success was level of interest in the task. Observation of others at the apparatus did not facilitate exploratory behaviors or contact with the tools in the observers. Most animals performed exploratory behaviors more often when they were at the apparatus alone than when with another, whether or not the other was using a tool. Observers were quick to learn the relationship between another's activities and the appearance of food. We conclude that capuchins do not readily learn about instrumental relations by observation of others or imitate other's acts. Imitation probably plays no role in the spread of novel instrumental behaviors among monkeys. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
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Limongelli L, Boysen ST, & Visalberghi E. (1995). Comprehension of cause-effect relations in a tool-using task by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). J. Comp. Psychol., 109, 18.
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Visalberghi E. (1990). Tool use in Cebus. Folia Primatol., 54, 146.
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Visalberghi E, & Trinca L. (1989). Tool use in capuchin monkeys: distinguishing between performing and understanding. Primates, 30, 511.
Abstract: A horizontal plexiglas tube containing a food-reward was presented to four naive tufted capuchins and suitable sticks were provided to push the reward out. Three monkeys out of four spontaneously used the tools and showed very different styles of solving the task. In more complex conditions, in which the sticks needed to be combined or actively modified in order to become effective, the monkeys were always successful; however, their performance was loaded with errors which did not disappear throughout the trials. Evidence of a difference between success in solving the problem and its understanding was found. This suggests that although capuchins can discover new means through active experimentation, they do not mentally represent the characteristics necessary for a tool to be effective, nor do they modify the tool appropriately beforehand. At this level, a major difference with chimpanzees emerges.
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Visalberghi E, Fragaszy DM, & Savage-Rumbaugh ES. (1995). Performance in a tool-using task by common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), bonobos (Pan paniscus), an orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), and capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). J. Comp. Psychol., 109, 52.
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Visalberghi E, & Tomasello M. (1998). Primate causal understanding in the physical and psychological domains. Behav. Process., 42, 189.
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