Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
08:30
Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats
Published on: February 15, 2015
Mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus lunulatus) solve the reverse contingency task without a modified procedure
Anna Albiach-Serrano1, Federico Guillén-Salazar, Josep Call
1Unidad de Etología y Bienestar Animal, Universidad Cardenal Herrera, 46113, Moncada (Valencia), Spain. analse@alumni.uv.es
Animal Cognition
|February 24, 2007
Summary
Mangabeys demonstrate significant inhibitory control and problem-solving skills in a reverse contingency task. Three out of four mangabeys successfully learned to choose smaller food quantities to obtain larger rewards, even with zero-quantity options.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Animal Behavior
- Primatology
Background:
- Problem-solving often involves inhibiting prepotent responses.
- The reverse contingency task assesses inhibitory control by requiring individuals to choose a smaller quantity to receive a larger one.
- Previous studies show only great apes and rhesus monkeys mastering this task without modifications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the inhibitory control and problem-solving abilities of mangabeys using the reverse contingency task.
- To determine if mangabeys can learn the task without procedural modifications.
- To assess the long-term retention of learned behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Four mangabeys were presented with the reverse contingency task using stimulus arrays of one and four raisins.
- Subjects were subsequently tested with arrays of zero and four raisins.
- Performance was evaluated above chance levels, and retention was tested after a 7-10 month break.
Main Results:
- Three of the four mangabeys successfully learned the reverse contingency task above chance levels without procedural modifications.
- These subjects also achieved above-chance performance when choosing a null quantity (zero raisins).
- All three proficient subjects maintained their performance levels after a significant break, even with novel quantity pairs.
Conclusions:
- Mangabeys possess significant inhibitory control and problem-solving capabilities, comparable to great apes and rhesus monkeys.
- The findings suggest that mangabeys can master complex cognitive tasks without the need for specialized training modifications.
- This study highlights the cognitive flexibility and robust learning evident in mangabey populations.
