Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
08:30
Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats
Published on: February 15, 2015
Behavioral flexibility and its drivers in semi-urban vervet monkeys
Paige Barnes1, Benjamin Robira1, Stéphanie Mercier1,2,3
1Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
Summary
Urbanization does not drive behavioral flexibility in vervet monkeys. Instead, these monkeys possess inherent cognitive abilities that enable them to adapt to urban environments and solve novel foraging challenges.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Cognitive Ethology
- Urban Ecology
Background:
- Behavioral flexibility is thought to be crucial for adapting to urban environments.
- It is unclear if urbanization enhances cognitive flexibility or if pre-existing skills are applied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if anthropogenic experience influences behavioral flexibility in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus).
- To assess if specific cognitive traits predict success in urban foraging.
Main Methods:
- 42 semi-urban vervet monkeys were observed in a 3-phase foraging experiment.
- Anthropogenic exposure was measured by foraging on human structures.
- Behavioral flexibility traits (switch tendency, innovativeness, learning sensitivity) were quantified using a probabilistic model.
Main Results:
- Switch tendency and innovativeness were not correlated with anthropogenic experience.
- The three behavioral flexibility traits were largely independent of each other.
- Neither switch tendency nor innovativeness predicted human food consumption.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral flexibility in vervet monkeys is not driven by human foraging experience.
- Findings suggest that vervet monkeys possess sufficient innate behavioral flexibility and cognitive capacity to thrive in urban settings, rather than urbanization selecting for these traits.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Behavior Modification
Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
00:54What is Behavior?
Behaviors are actions that an organism engages in—they can be related to finding food, reproducing, defending against threats, and many other possible actions. Behaviors include activities related to the environment around the animal—such as migration—as well as social interactions within a species or population. Many behaviors involve motor output—that is, muscle movements—while others involve less visible actions, such as learning.
01:05Instinctive Drift
Instinctive drift refers to the tendency of animals to revert to their innate behaviors despite repeated reinforcement. Breland and Breland demonstrated this concept in an experiment with a raccoon. The raccoon was trained to pick up two coins and place them in a container in exchange for food. Initially, the raccoon learned to associate the coins with food, making them a conditioned stimulus or a substitute for food. However, over time, the raccoon became less willing to put the coins into the...
01:28Behaviorism
The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
00:48Optimal Foraging
How animals obtain and eat their food is called foraging behavior. Foraging can include searching for plants and hunting for prey and depends on the species and environment.
01:28Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences
Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...