Abstract.
The marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a small New World monkey that is increasingly being used in a laboratory setting. A previous set of studies has provided a direct comparison between the performance of rats and macaque monkeys on a spatial delayed non-match to sample task in a T-maze (Murray et al. 1989, Experimental Brain Research 74:173–186; Markowska et al. 1989, Experimental Brain Research 74:187–201). In the current experiment we replicated these studies using the marmoset. This allowed for a comparison of the behavioural performance of the marmoset with both rats and macaque monkeys. Marmosets performed well at the task, performing better than macaques, and at a similar level to rats. A closer analysis of the data from the present experiment suggests that marmosets spontaneously alternated in the T-maze, a strategy often adopted by rats, but not by macaques in the T-maze.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Butters N, Pandya DN (1969) Retention of delayed-alternation: effect of selective lesions of sulcus principalis. Science 165:1271–1273
Cotterman TE, Meyer DR, Wickens DD (1956) Discrimination reversal learning in marmosets. J Comp Physiol Psychol 49:539–541
Derrington AM, Parker A, Barraclough NE, Easton A, Goodson GR, Parker K, Tinsley CJ, Webb BS (2002) The uses of colour vision: behavioural and physiological distinctiveness of colour stimuli. Phil Trans R Soc Lond 1424:975–985
Gaffan D, Gaffan EA, Harrison S (1984) Effects of fornix transection on spontaneous and trained non-matching by monkeys. Q J Exp Psychol 36B:285–303
Levy R, Friedman HR, Davachi L, Goldman-Rakic PS (1997) Differential activation of the caudate nucleus in primates performing spatial and nonspatial working memory tasks. J Neurosci 17:3870–3882
Lyon DC, Kaas JH (2001) Connectional and architectonic evidence for dorsal and ventral V3, and dorsomedial area in marmoset monkeys. J Neurosci 21:249–261
Mahut H (1972) A selective spatial deficit in monkeys after transection of the fornix. Neuropsychologia 10:65–74
Markowska AL, Olton DS, Murray EA, Gaffan D (1989) A comparative analysis of the role of the fornix and cingulate cortex in memory: rats. Exp Brain Res 74:187–201
Miles RC, Meyer DR (1956) Learning sets in marmosets. J of Comp Physiol Psychol 49:219–222
Mishkin M, Delacour J (1975) An analysis of short-term visual memory in the monkey. J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process 1:326–334
Murray EA, Davidson M, Gaffan D, Olton DS, Suomi SJ (1989) Effects of fornix transection and cingulate cortical ablation on spatial memory in rhesus monkeys. Exp Brain Res 74:173–186
Nixon PD, Passingham RE (1999) The cerebellum and cognition: cerebellar lesions do not impair spatial working memory or visual associative learning in monkeys. Eur J Neurosci 11:4070–4080
Rosa MGP, Schmid LM (1995) Visual areas in the dorsal and medial extrastriate cortices of the marmoset. J Comp Neurol 359:272–299
Rosa MGP, Tweedale R (2000) Visual areas in lateral and ventral extrastriate cortices of the marmoset monkey. J Comp Neurol 422:621–651
Acknowledgements.
We would like to thank G.R. Goodson, N. Swain and C. Thompson for their assistance in training the marmosets.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This work was supported by the McDonnell Foundation and the Wellcome Trust
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Easton, A., Parker, K., Derrington, A.M. et al. Behaviour of marmoset monkeys in a T-maze: comparison with rats and macaque monkeys on a spatial delayed non-match to sample task. Exp Brain Res 150, 114–116 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-003-1409-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-003-1409-5