title: Self-control in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): controlling for differential stimulus exposure.
abstract: Previous research on self-control using macaques (Macaca fascicularis) showed these animals have a strong bias for a delayed, larger reinforcer (Self-control) over an immediate, smaller reinforcer (Impulsive). Typical studies of self-control have used a discrete trials methodology with a secondary discriminative stimulus during the delay periods. This results in a greater exposure to the stimulus representing the self-controlled option and may account for some of the early exclusive preference for self-control observed. The present experiment examined self-control bias in three rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) while controlling for differential durations of stimulus exposure. Subjects were presented stimuli via a computer monitor and made choices by touching the stimulus at which point both stimuli were removed for the delay periods. All three subjects displayed a nearly exclusive bias for the delayed, larger reinforcer self-control). These results are consistent with previous studies, despite the variations in methodology and species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Skaggs Building, Room 143, The University of Montana-Missoula, Missoula, MT 59812-MPSI01, USA. allen.szalda-petree@umontana.edu
authors.forename: Allen D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Szalda-Petree
authors.forename: Baine B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Craft
authors.forename: Lori M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Heide K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Deditius-Island
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy