Effects of competition on video-task performance in monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Area of Science:

• Behavioral neuroscience
• Animal cognition
• Primate behavior

Background:

• Understanding the influence of social dynamics on cognitive performance is crucial.
• Competition is a fundamental aspect of social interaction with potential effects on task execution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of direct competition on the performance of a video-formatted task.
• To determine if competition induces a speed-accuracy trade-off in rhesus monkeys.

Main Methods:

• Two rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) performed a video-game task requiring joystick manipulation to hit moving targets.
• The task was made competitive by having both monkeys target the same object, with only the first to hit being rewarded.
• Performance metrics (time to hit, number of shots) were compared between competitive (contested) and non-competitive (uncontested) trials.

Main Results:

• Monkeys exhibited significantly faster target acquisition times during competitive trials compared to non-competitive ones.
• Accuracy decreased under competition, evidenced by a significantly higher number of shots required to hit the target.
• The observed speed-accuracy trade-off persisted regardless of reinforcement schedules in non-competitive conditions.

Conclusions:

• Competition itself, independent of reinforcement, significantly alters task performance.
• Rhesus monkeys demonstrate a robust speed-accuracy trade-off when engaged in competitive scenarios.
• Findings support the concept of competition as a direct modulator of behavioral efficiency and accuracy.