Acquisition of Successive Auditory Discrimination in Monkeys

Abstract

Six monkeys, conditioned with positive reinforcement techniques on a successive auditory discrimination, required about 1100 trials for acquisition (range: 950-1200 trials). The discriminative stimuli were a tone and a noise of equal intensity and duration. Retention was measured after a 30-day layoff. The procedure described is unique in auditory conditioning methodology in that an OBSERVING response is required of the animal in order for him to gain access to the stimuli.