Observing Behavior in the Squirrel Monkey in a Situation Analogous to Human Monitoring

Abstract

Observing and detection behavior were examined in four squirrel monkeys under schedule conditions similar to those employed in human monitoring experiments. Observing responses produced either a visual signal ( Sd) indicating availability of food reinforcement for an instrumental (detection) response or an SΔ indicating non-availability of reinforcement. Signals were terminated by a detection response and followed by reinforcement. SΔ exposures in the absence of signals were 0.5 sec. in duration. Detection responses in SΔ had no consequence. Signal availabilities were programmed according to random interval schedules. Mean intersignal availability times of 1, 2, 4, and 8 min. corresponding to average signal rates of 60, 30, 15, and 7.5 per hour were examined in that order. All schedules used generated a constant high rate of observing responses with short detection latencies in the presence of signals and very few detection responses in the absence of signals. No decrease in observing rate or increase in detection time was obtained within 2-hr. sessions. Neither observing rate nor detection latency varied systematically as a function of signal frequency. Distributions of observing inter-response times in the absence of stimuli were random except in one animal. Results are discussed in relation to data from other experiments on operant behavior.