Transfer of self-control in black (Eulemur macaco) and brown (Eulemur fulvus) lemurs: choice of a less preferred food item under a reverse-reward contingency.
When presented a choice between two food-type arrays of equivalent size under a reverse-reward contingency, black (Eulemur macaco) and brown (Eulemur fulvus) lemurs transposed their self-control abilities, acquired in a previous experiment, to significantly select the less-desired food item in order to gain access to the more desired one. However, when presented with the choice between two different food-type arrays in which the amount of the less desired food array was larger than the more desired one, large individual differences were revealed: Some subjects established a consistent rule favoring quality or quantity, whereas others exhibited various point of trade-off. These results show that lemurs seem to manage the task considering not only food quantity but also food quality.
Genty
Emilie
E
Department of Ecology, Physiology, and Ethology, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.
Roeder
Jean-Jacques
JJ
D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003210:Concept Formation; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D007206:Individuality; D007900:Lemur / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D012201:Reward; D012858:Size Perception; D013045:Species Specificity; D014163:Transfer, Psychology