Serial visual reversal learning in captive black-handed spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyi
Abstract Recent research suggests that socio-ecological factors such as dietary specialization and social complexity may be drivers of advanced cognitive skills among primates. Therefore, we assessed the ability of 12 black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), a highly frugivorous platyrrhine p...
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| Format: | Article |
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Springer
2024-08-01
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| Series: | Animal Cognition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01897-z |
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| author | Jules Dorschner Laura Teresa Hernandez Salazar Matthias Laska |
| author_facet | Jules Dorschner Laura Teresa Hernandez Salazar Matthias Laska |
| author_sort | Jules Dorschner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Recent research suggests that socio-ecological factors such as dietary specialization and social complexity may be drivers of advanced cognitive skills among primates. Therefore, we assessed the ability of 12 black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), a highly frugivorous platyrrhine primate with strong fission-fusion dynamics, to succeed in a serial visual reversal learning task. Using a two-alternative choice paradigm we first trained the animals to reliably choose a rewarded visual stimulus over a non-rewarded one. Upon reaching a pre-set learning criterion we then switched the reward values of the two stimuli and assessed if and how quickly the animals learned to reverse their choices, again to a pre-set learning criterion. This stimulus reversal procedure was then continued for a total of 80 sessions of 10 trials each. We found that the spider monkeys quickly learned to reliably discriminate between two simultaneously presented visual stimuli, that they succeeded in a visual reversal learning task, and that they displayed an increase in learning speed across consecutive reversals, suggesting that they are capable of serial reversal learning-set formation with visual cues. The fastest-learning individual completed five reversals within the 80 sessions. The spider monkeys outperformed most other primate and nonprimate mammal species tested so far on this type of cognitive task, including chimpanzees, with regard to their learning speed in both the initial learning task and in the first reversal task, suggesting a high degree of behavioral flexibility and inhibitory control. Our findings support the notion that socio-ecological factors such as dietary specialization and social complexity foster advanced cognitive skills in primates. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-098cc6dd3b264932aae84f0207586561 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1435-9456 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-08-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Cognition |
| spelling | doaj-art-098cc6dd3b264932aae84f02075865612025-01-26T12:44:02ZengSpringerAnimal Cognition1435-94562024-08-0127111110.1007/s10071-024-01897-zSerial visual reversal learning in captive black-handed spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyiJules Dorschner0Laura Teresa Hernandez Salazar1Matthias Laska2IFM Biology, Linköping UniversityInstituto de Neuroetologia, Universidad VeracruzanaIFM Biology, Linköping UniversityAbstract Recent research suggests that socio-ecological factors such as dietary specialization and social complexity may be drivers of advanced cognitive skills among primates. Therefore, we assessed the ability of 12 black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), a highly frugivorous platyrrhine primate with strong fission-fusion dynamics, to succeed in a serial visual reversal learning task. Using a two-alternative choice paradigm we first trained the animals to reliably choose a rewarded visual stimulus over a non-rewarded one. Upon reaching a pre-set learning criterion we then switched the reward values of the two stimuli and assessed if and how quickly the animals learned to reverse their choices, again to a pre-set learning criterion. This stimulus reversal procedure was then continued for a total of 80 sessions of 10 trials each. We found that the spider monkeys quickly learned to reliably discriminate between two simultaneously presented visual stimuli, that they succeeded in a visual reversal learning task, and that they displayed an increase in learning speed across consecutive reversals, suggesting that they are capable of serial reversal learning-set formation with visual cues. The fastest-learning individual completed five reversals within the 80 sessions. The spider monkeys outperformed most other primate and nonprimate mammal species tested so far on this type of cognitive task, including chimpanzees, with regard to their learning speed in both the initial learning task and in the first reversal task, suggesting a high degree of behavioral flexibility and inhibitory control. Our findings support the notion that socio-ecological factors such as dietary specialization and social complexity foster advanced cognitive skills in primates.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01897-zSerial visual reversal learningCognitionBlack-handed spider monkeyAteles geoffroyi |
| spellingShingle | Jules Dorschner Laura Teresa Hernandez Salazar Matthias Laska Serial visual reversal learning in captive black-handed spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyi Animal Cognition Serial visual reversal learning Cognition Black-handed spider monkey Ateles geoffroyi |
| title | Serial visual reversal learning in captive black-handed spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyi |
| title_full | Serial visual reversal learning in captive black-handed spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyi |
| title_fullStr | Serial visual reversal learning in captive black-handed spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serial visual reversal learning in captive black-handed spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyi |
| title_short | Serial visual reversal learning in captive black-handed spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyi |
| title_sort | serial visual reversal learning in captive black handed spider monkeys ateles geoffroyi |
| topic | Serial visual reversal learning Cognition Black-handed spider monkey Ateles geoffroyi |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01897-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT julesdorschner serialvisualreversallearningincaptiveblackhandedspidermonkeysatelesgeoffroyi AT laurateresahernandezsalazar serialvisualreversallearningincaptiveblackhandedspidermonkeysatelesgeoffroyi AT matthiaslaska serialvisualreversallearningincaptiveblackhandedspidermonkeysatelesgeoffroyi |