FROM SIMPLE TO CONDITIONAL DISCRIMINATION: A TEACHING PROGRAM FOR CAPUCHIN MONKEYS

Abstract

Two protocols for teaching conditional identity matching to adult capuchin monkeys are reported. The first was applied to a subject which had a history of persistence upon simple discriminations reversals. The second protocol, an enhanced version of the procedure, was applied to three naive subjects. Protocols involved: 1) repeated reversals or shifts of simple discriminations with successive trials -with the S+ only, and simultaneous trials with the S+ and one, two or three S-, at first in alternate sessions, and later in the same session, in blocks of trials, and 2) conditional identity matching training. All four subjects eventually reached criterion in all phases. Observed differences among subjects concerning the number of sessions to criterion may be due to the number of trained relations and to the number of choices per trial -2 to 4, in the identity matching-to-sample. Overall, manipulations were effective in obtaining responding under control of the identity between stimuli. Key words: errorless discrimination, repeated reversals, simple discrimination, identity matching-to-sample, capuchin monkeys