Linking of serially ordered lists by macaque monkeys (Macaca mulatta): list position influences.
Five monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were trained on 2 sets of 3 5-item serially ordered lists. Then, each set was either linked or not in a counterbalanced, within-subject design. Linking entailed training on the 2 pairs that ordered the 3 5-item lists into a single overall 15-item series. Choices on novel pairings after linking conditions attempted to define the unique contributions of knowledge of within-list ordinal position and between-lists link training. With linkage, the series was immediately treated as a 15-item ordered list. Without linkage, choices reflected list positions from initial learning, but continued testing with directional reward yielded gradual ordering into a 15-item list. Apparently, monkeys remembered and used initial list-position information, but linkage allowed inference of an integrated serial relationship among items. Results supported primate list memory as an organizational process.
Treichler
F Robert
FR
Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 5190, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001, USA. rtreichl@kent.edu
Raghanti
Mary Ann
MA
Van Tilburg
Debra N
DN
D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning; D001288:Attention; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000523:psychology*; D009949:Orientation; D011340:Problem Solving; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012691:Serial Learning