Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) enumerate large and small sequentially presented sets of items using analog numerical representations.

Full Abstract

Two rhesus monkeys selected the larger of two sequentially presented sets of items on a computer monitor. In Experiment 1, performance was related to the ratio of set sizes, and the monkeys discriminated between sets with up to 10 items. Performance was not disrupted when 1 set had fewer than 4 items and 1 set had more than 4 items, a critical trial type for differentiating object file and analog models of numerical representation. Experiment 2 controlled the interitem rate of presentation. Experiment 3 included some trials on which number and amount (visual surface area) offered conflicting cues. Experiment 4 varied the total duration of set presentation and the duration of item visibility. In all of the experiments, performance remained high, although total set presentation duration also acted as a partial cue for the monkeys. Overall, the data indicated that rhesus monkeys estimate the approximate number of items in sequentially presented sets and that they are not relying solely on nonnumerical cues such as rate, duration, or cumulative amount.(c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved.

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Author information

Author/s: Beran, Michael J (MJ);

Affiliation: Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302-5010, USA. mjberan(-atsign-)yahoo.com

Grants: HD-38051 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of experimental psychology. Animal behavior processes (J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jan; vol 33 (issue 1) : pp 42-54

Dates: Created 2007/01/17; Completed 2007/03/19; Revised 2007/12/03;

PMID: 17227194, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Attention
Choice Behavior
Concept Formation
Macaca mulatta - psychology
Male

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