Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1982. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 174-180).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1961. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 24-25).

Six naive capuchin monkeys (Cebus appella) and six naive squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) were tested on an 8 second indirect delayed-response task in a modified Wisconsin General Test Apparatus (WGTA). Six experimental conditions were used to vary the lighting conditions during the 8 second delay between the termination of the 5 second cue light behind a door panel and the raising of a 2-way mirror screen which allowed the subject to respond to one of the two panels. These six conditions were altered by timers which controlled a small light located in the top of the test cage. The six experimental conditions were (1) light in test cage remained on for the entire 8 seconds; (2) light went off immediately following the termination of the cue light and remained off for the entire 8 seconds at which time the light came on simultaneously with the raising of the 2-way mirror screen; (3) light on for 4 seconds and then off for 4 seconds; (4) light off for 4 seconds then on for 4 seconds; (5) light on for 2 seconds, off for 4 seconds and on for 2 seconds; and, (6) light off for 2 seconds, on for 4 seconds and off for 2 seconds. A randomized 6 x 6 Latin Square was used to assign subject and condition per day. Testing was conducted six days per week which allowed each condition to be presented to each subject every week. The 6 x 6 Latin Square was then repeated five times for a total test period of 30 weeks or 180 days. The 30 weeks were divided into 3 blocks of 10 weeks each. The results were analyzed with the Sequential State Theory (SST) which was developed by King and Fobes and is a two-stage theory of learning. The two stages are defined as attention which is followed by an associative stage of bias free learning. The results indicated that, to the contrary of some recent research, proactive inhibition was a significant source of error under all conditions and for both species. There were no significant species differences as a function of the different lighting condition during the period of delay. The Sequential State Theory hypothesizes a triphasic model for the acquisition of a complex learning task. When the learning task is sufficiently difficult there are three clearly identifiable curves in the acquisition of learning. First, the animal exhibits error tendencies such as position perseveration. This tendency is followed by an increase in random responding. Finally, detect responses emerge which are manifested by attending to the relevant dimensions of the stimulus object. The data for both the capuchin monkeys and squirrel monkeys supported this model of learning with the response curves emerging in the predicted manner.

Biotelemetry has been coupled with an ethological approach to investigate a postulate that the physiological, behavioural, and social functioning of individuals coact in order to maintain homeostasis in an everchanging environment. Attention was focussed upon body temperature, behaviour, and the social situation, as they occurred together in each of five 'undisturbed' adult vervet monkeys. One male and one female were housed alone in single cages, and the other three, all females, were part of a natural troop that live together in captivity in a 6.5 metre radius geodesic dome. Intensive studies, including in-depth and multiple repeated measures at each level of functioning permitted comparisons between and within subjects, so that the connections between body temperature, and individual and social behaviour, could be scrutinised. Techniques for observation, data processing, and factor analysis have been considered, and procedures to facilitate the organisation and interpretation of information are suggested. The results pointed to individual variations superimposed upon a rhythmic underpinning of all the functions monitored. A synthesis of the data of body temperature with individual and social behaviour supports the contention that the individual responds to the vagaries of the environment as an integrated system within which the different levels of functioning are linked. It was found that the oscillation in body temperature was greater in the vervets that lived alone than in the vervets that lived in a troop. These results were supported behaviourally since the isolated subjects could only complement autonomic thermoregulatory responses with individually based behavioural strategies, whereas their troop-living conspecifics could utilise both individual and socially directed behavioural mechanisms. Within the troop an inverse relationship between body temperature variation and social status was revealed that is, the lower the status of the subject, the more the body temperature fluctuated around the mean. Behaviourally, it was found that the lower the status of the subject, the more difficult it became to gain access to resources, and to manipulate interpersonal space. In addition, harassment by troop conspecifics increased and, consequently, the efficiency with which behavioural patterns could be executed, was decreased. An analysis of the data also led to the proposal that social grooming has evolved as a thermoregulatory mechanism; to the identification of three different facets of individual behaviour and of social behaviour; and to the idea that the rhythmic changes in the troop's spatial conformation reflected cyclical patterns in behavioural and social activity. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal Durban, 1984.

Food cleaning behavior has been observed among laboratory squirrel monkeys. A Wilcoxon signed-ranks test showed that significantly more cleaning behavior occurred when hard monkey chow pellets and soft fruit were coated with edible debris. Monkeys removed fewer pieces of fruit from a food crock containing fruit coated with edible debris in a timed test. A principal component analysis of the food cleaning behaviors showed two underlying correlated factors. The first factor was the use of the body to clean food. The second factor was the use of the environment to clean food. Two groups of squirrel monkeys, one without previous learners and one with previous learners, were subjects in a fishing study. The presence of previous learners in the social group was not significant for monkeys fishing in water filled crocks. But there was a significant difference in the number of fishing attempts made by the No Previous Learners Group when fishing in wading pools. The Previous Learners group did not make significantly more fishing attempts fishing in wading pools than in crocks. A significant difference was observed in fishing attempts during Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the wading pool experiment for both groups. All monkeys in the group fishing experiments ate fish when it could be obtained. Monkeys who did not learn to fish successfully learned alternative behaviors to obtain fish. The Previous Learners group in the wading pool experiment were subjects in a more difficult fishing test. Significantly fewer fishing attempts were made but the number of monkeys that caught fish was larger. Caged squirrel monkeys scored a lower percentage of fishing attempts than squirrel monkeys living in a social group. While Cebus monkeys caught fish, unlike squirrel monkeys, they did not attempt to eat them.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.