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Published on: February 21, 2014
Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), video tasks, and implications for stimulus-response spatial contiguity
D M Rumbaugh1, W K Richardson, D A Washburn
1Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30303.
Summary
Spatial discontiguity does not always impair primate learning. Rhesus monkeys learned joystick control with a spatially separated screen, suggesting attention to movement effects, not just hand position, is key for learning.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Primate Behavior
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Previous research indicated spatial discontiguity between stimuli and responses hinders primate learning.
- This established principle suggested a necessary link between the location of visual cues and the physical action required.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the necessity of stimulus-response contiguity in primate learning.
- To investigate if learning efficiency is affected by spatial separation in a joystick-controlled task.
Main Methods:
- Two rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were trained to control a joystick.
- The joystick was positioned 9 to 18 cm from the video display screen.
- Monkeys responded to various computer-generated targets using the joystick.
Main Results:
- Both monkeys successfully mastered precise joystick control.
- Learning occurred despite the significant spatial separation between the joystick and the visual targets.
- This suggests that the spatial contiguity itself may not be the critical factor.
Conclusions:
- Stimulus-response contiguity is important only when learning requires visual attention to the hand's movement in relation to stimuli.
- When attention shifts to the *effects* of movement, spatial contiguity becomes less critical for learning.
- These findings have implications for understanding learning mechanisms in tasks like mirror-guided studies.
