Rhesus monkeys' valuation of vocalizations during a free-choice task

PLoS One. 2009 Nov 18;4(11):e7834. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007834.

Abstract

Adaptive behavior requires that animals integrate current and past information with their decision-making. One important type of information is auditory-communication signals (i.e., species-specific vocalizations). Here, we tested how rhesus monkeys incorporate the opportunity to listen to different species-specific vocalizations into their decision-making processes. In particular, we tested how monkeys value these vocalizations relative to the opportunity to get a juice reward. To test this hypothesis, monkeys chose one of two targets to get a varying juice reward; at one of those targets, in addition to the juice reward, a vocalization was presented. By titrating the juice amounts at the two targets, we quantified the relationship between the monkeys' juice choices relative to the opportunity to listen to a vocalization. We found that, rhesus were not willing to give up a large juice reward to listen to vocalizations indicating that, relative to a juice reward, listening to vocalizations has a low value.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Choice Behavior
  • Decision Making*
  • Discrimination Learning
  • Female
  • Macaca mulatta / parasitology*
  • Macaca mulatta / physiology*
  • Male
  • Normal Distribution
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Reaction Time
  • Research Design
  • Reward
  • Vocalization, Animal*