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Ontogenetic dissociation between habit learning and recognition memory in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)
Michelline C Resende1, Maria Clotilde H Tavares, Carlos Tomaz
1Primate Center and Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Brasília, CEP 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil.
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
|December 17, 2002
Summary
Young capuchin monkeys show less proficiency in memory tasks like Delayed Non-Matching to Sample (DNMS) compared to adults. This suggests distinct cognitive processes and neural systems for different memory tasks in capuchin monkeys.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Primate Behavior
- Comparative Psychology
Background:
- Concurrent Discrimination Learning (CDL) and Delayed Non-Matching to Sample (DNMS) tasks assess different cognitive abilities.
- Understanding cognitive development in non-human primates offers insights into human cognition and neurobiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in cognitive performance between young and adult capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella).
- To examine the distinct cognitive processes underlying CDL and DNMS tasks and their neural underpinnings.
- To evaluate capuchin monkeys as a model for studying memory neurobiology.
Main Methods:
- Subjects: Young and adult capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella).
- Tasks: Concurrent Discrimination Learning (CDL) with 20 pairs, Delayed Non-Matching to Sample (DNMS) with varying memory delays.
- Data Analysis: Performance comparison between age groups and against chance level.
Main Results:
- All capuchin monkeys successfully learned the CDL task and retained associations for 24 hours.
- Adults significantly outperformed young monkeys on the DNMS task across all memory delays.
- Young monkeys performed at chance level on the DNMS task, indicating age-dependent memory deficits.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis of independent neural systems mediating CDL and DNMS, with differential ontogenetic development.
- Cognitive dissociation between tasks is present in New World monkeys, similar to Old World monkeys and humans.
- Capuchin monkeys serve as a valuable model for exploring the neurobiological basis of memory and its development.
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