Working memory in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)

Abstract

It has been suggested that delayed (non-) matching to sample (DNMTS/DMTS) tasks using trial-unique stimuli and short, as well as longer delay intervals, can provide important insights into animal cognition. Therefore, this research examined the capability of the New World capuchin monkey (Cebus apella) in perform trial-unique DMTS and DNMTS tasks across delay intervals ranging between 8 s and 10 min. Subjects were tested using a version of the Wisconsin General Test Apparatus mounted in front of the animal's home cage. They were first trained on a basic DMTS/DNMTS task with an 8 s interval until they reached a learning criterion of nine correct responses in ten consecutive trials. All subjects reached the learning criterion in both DMTS/DNMTS tasks, and the number of trials to criterion did not differ between tasks. After reaching the criterion, subject's memory performance was successively assessed at delay intervals of 15 s, 60 s, 120 s and 10 min. For both DMTS/DNMTS tasks, the mean percentage of correct responses across delays was above chance and, interestingly, performance did not significantly decrease as function of delay increments. Comparisons based on each group's scores, averaged across the four delays, showed no difference between DMTS and DNMTS memory performance. These results indicate that capuchin monkeys are able to learn DMTS/DNMTS tasks in which they are required to respond to new pairs of stimuli on every trial. This demonstrates the capability of 'concept' learning in this species. Moreover, above chance performance on the memory tests indicates a working memory ability similar to that reported for the genus Macaca. Taken together, these data indicates that capuchin monkeys can be a valuable alternative model for investigations of the neuropsychological basis of memory.