Memory Monitoring in Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) Público

Abstract

Taxonomies of human memory distinguish between memories that are accessible to monitoring (explicit) and memories that are inaccessible (implicit). Because nonhumans cannot provide the verbal reports that typify accessible memories in humans, it is difficult to directly assess the accessibility of memory nonhumans. However, recently developed metamemory paradigms provide objective behavioral measures of the accessibility of memory in nonhumans. Animals that can monitor their memory should perform better on memory tests if given the choice to decline trials when memory is weak, compared to when there is no option to decline tests. There is growing evidence that rhesus monkeys selectively decline tests when memory is weak (Hampton, 2001; Smith et al., 2003), but such evidence is limited. The goal of the present study was to test the robustness of monkeys' ability to monitor their own memory using a new foraging-like spatial test. Six rhesus monkeys performed a four choice delayed matching to location task. On each trial monkeys had to remember the location in which a preferred food was hidden in order to collect the reward after a delay. A decline-test response was concurrently available on some trials. Selection of the decline-test response allowed monkeys to avoid the memory test and resulted in a guaranteed but less preferred reward. Monkeys performed significantly better on trials with the decline option available than on trials without it, indicating that when possible, they appropriately declined tests when memory was weak. Monkeys transferred appropriate use of the decline-test response under three conditions that assessed generalization: two tests weakened memory and one test enhanced memory. These results provide converging evidence that rhesus monkeys are able to monitor their memory. This objective behavioral demonstration of memory monitoring in monkeys validates this animal model for the study of the neurobiology of accessible memory in nonhumans.

Table of Contents

MEMORY MONITORING IN RHESUS MONKEYS (MACACA MULATTA)...1
INTRODUCTION...1

Converging approaches...7

GENERAL METHODS...10

Subjects...10
Apparatus...10
Rewards...11
General Procedure...12
Data analysis & behavior scoring...13

FAMIALIARIZATION TRAINING...13

Phase 1: selecting one baited cup out of two identical cups...13
Phase 2: visual barrier introduction...14
Phase 3: transition to four cups...14
Phase 4: delay titration...15
Phase 5: introduction of decline response...17

EXPERIMENT 1...18
EXPERIMENT 2...22
EXPERIMENT 3...25
EXPERIMENT 4...30
GENERAL DISCUSSION...36

Monkeys vs. orangutans in a decline response paradigm...38
Neuroanatomy of metamemory...39

REFERENCES...42
APPENDICES...46

Appendix A...46
Appendix B...47
Appendix C...49

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Psychology
Degree	MA
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Behavioral
Palabra Clave	cognitive control metacognition metamemory rhesus memory
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Hampton, Robert, Emory University
Committee Members	Manns, Joseph, Emory University Lourenco, Stella, Emory University Bachevalier, Jocelyne, Emory University

Última modificación

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	Memory Monitoring in Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) ()	2018-08-28 12:04:07 -0400	Press to Select an action Download

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions