In the delay choice task, in which individuals face choices between smaller immediate rewards and larger delayed rewards, humans discount larger/more preferred delayed rewards less steeply than smaller/less preferred ones (magnitude effect). However, this effect has not yet been observed in animals either for quantity or quality of the reward. We aimed to assess whether in a delay choice task capuchins (i) show a magnitude effect, and (ii) value more the quality or the quantity of the reward. Six subjects were presented with four conditions: (i) 2 pieces of low-preferred food vs. 6 pieces of high-preferred food (2 low-6 high); (ii) 2 pieces of high-preferred food vs. 6 pieces of low-preferred food (2 high-6 low); (iii) 2 pieces of low-preferred food vs. 6 pieces of low-preferred food (2 low-6 low); and (iv) 2 pieces of high-preferred food vs. 6 pieces of high-preferred food (2 high-6 high). Overall, we failed to observe a magnitude effect since capuchins did not choose the larger delayed reward significantly more in condition 2 low-6 high than in condition 2 low-6 low. Interestingly, capuchins valued the quality of the reward more than its quantity when the delay was implicated, in that they chose the larger delayed reward less in condition 2 high-6 low than in condition 2 low-6 low. Our findings are in agreement with recent results obtained in corvids in a delayed exchange task.

Are capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) tempted with delicacies? Trade-off between food quality and quantity in a delay choice task / DE PETRILLO, Francesca; Ponsi, Giorgia; S., Cianciullo; L., Macchitella; F., Paglieri; E., Addessi. - (2012). (Intervento presentato al convegno CogEvo - Rovereto Workshop on Cognition and Evolution (3rd edition) tenutosi a Rovereto (Italy) nel 28/06/12 - 01/07/12).

Are capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) tempted with delicacies? Trade-off between food quality and quantity in a delay choice task

DE PETRILLO, FRANCESCA;PONSI, GIORGIA;
2012

Abstract

In the delay choice task, in which individuals face choices between smaller immediate rewards and larger delayed rewards, humans discount larger/more preferred delayed rewards less steeply than smaller/less preferred ones (magnitude effect). However, this effect has not yet been observed in animals either for quantity or quality of the reward. We aimed to assess whether in a delay choice task capuchins (i) show a magnitude effect, and (ii) value more the quality or the quantity of the reward. Six subjects were presented with four conditions: (i) 2 pieces of low-preferred food vs. 6 pieces of high-preferred food (2 low-6 high); (ii) 2 pieces of high-preferred food vs. 6 pieces of low-preferred food (2 high-6 low); (iii) 2 pieces of low-preferred food vs. 6 pieces of low-preferred food (2 low-6 low); and (iv) 2 pieces of high-preferred food vs. 6 pieces of high-preferred food (2 high-6 high). Overall, we failed to observe a magnitude effect since capuchins did not choose the larger delayed reward significantly more in condition 2 low-6 high than in condition 2 low-6 low. Interestingly, capuchins valued the quality of the reward more than its quantity when the delay was implicated, in that they chose the larger delayed reward less in condition 2 high-6 low than in condition 2 low-6 low. Our findings are in agreement with recent results obtained in corvids in a delayed exchange task.
2012
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/541204
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