Presentation Details
| Hide and Peek: Do Monkeys and Children Recognize Distinctiveness as a Valid Cue for Improved Memory? Anna Sofia Hege, Joseph McKeon, Liz Haseltine, Kristin French, Caleb Simon, Cassandra Rosales, Laura Eager, Michael Beran. Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
Abstract
Metamemory is the awareness of how one's memory works and when it is fallible. We assessed whether capuchin monkeys and preschool children demonstrate metamemory in a computerized task by strategically utilizing distinctiveness as a cue to find an object in the future. Participants placed a small monkey avatar into one of four shapes presented on a computer screen. Those shapes then moved around onscreen while occluded, making it impossible to track them through this movement. However, on each trial one shape was distinct from all others. As the task became more difficult, the unique shape shared more features with the others, reducing its distinctiveness. Monkeys were less proficient than children who excelled, but they performed above chance. Some monkeys remained successful as the task became more difficult. Whether capuchin monkeys are capable of metamemory remains unclear, as future research needs to determine whether they selected the distinct object for the purpose of future planning. Children, however, demonstrated metamemory capability by successfully selecting four shapes for the experiment that would set them up for future success.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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