Food-Motivated Behavior in Three Species of Macaques

Abstract

The food-motivated performances of rhesus, stumptail, and cynomolgus macaques were compared using an intra-session progressive fixed-ratio technique. During each test session, the number of panel-presses required for reinforcement was progressively increased until each animal failed to meet a performance criterion. The number of reinforcements obtained by each animal and its speed of responding were measured. The results indicated that, when an easily learned instrumental task involves progressively increasing effort to obtain food, the three species of macaques tested do not perform in a significantly different manner.