Aging in the Rhesus Monkey: Effects on Visual Discrimination Learning and Reversal Learning
- 1 March 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Gerontology
- Vol. 34 (2), 209-219
- https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/34.2.209
Abstract
The behavior of aged rhesus monkeys (18 years and older) was compared to that of young monkeys (3 to 6 years old) to evaluate their relative abilities to learn a series of visual discrimination and discrimination reversal problems. Using a subject-paced, automated experimental procedure designed to optimize stimulus control and facilitate execution of choice responses, no consistent age-related differences were observed in the ability to learn new color and pattern discrimination problems of varying difficulty. However, a severe and consistent deficit on reversal learning did occur. A detailed analysis of this deficit revealed that not only did the aged monkeys take longer to extinguish the old habit and return to chance performance, but they continued to display a deficit in establishing accurate performance at above-chance levels as well. Since no reliable age differences were observed on the original discrimination learning problems, these data suggest that aging impairs mechanisms involved with response rigidity and/or susceptibility to intertrial proactive interference, more severely than those involved with the simple formation of new associations.Keywords
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