[The ability of hamadryas baboons' adolescents to decide the modified Piaget's A-not-B error test]

We investigated the ability to the inhibition of a forced instrumental food-procuring reflex in hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas). The subjects of the study were immature animals of the two age groups: the eighteen-month-old group (six males and five females) and three-year-old group (seven males and seven females). To determine the capability we used the modified Piaget's A-not-B error test. Four monkeys correctly decided the test only. The inhibition of the forced conditioned reflex occurred in females only and in the equal degree in each age group. The findings also show the big variation in an activity among the individuals of the different sex and age during the decision of the task. Regarding animals have shown the ability to inhibit consolidation of the conditioned reflex, we tend to treat it as a manifestation of conscious choice, but more research is needed.