Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) excel in a one-trial spatial memory test, yet perform poorly in a classical memory task

Animal Cognition, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(1)

Published: March 17, 2025

Abstract When quantifying animal cognition, memory represents one of the most tested domains and is key to understanding cognitive evolution. Memory tests thus play an important role in comparative research, yet slight variations experimental settings can substantially change outcome, questioning whether different tap into systems or they test at all. Here, we first assessed performance 16 common marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus ) two distinct paradigms varying their format delay. First, examined marmoset a 24-h delay (24 h-DMT) which could freely explore environment with three novel objects contained food. We retention day after, procedure was iterated cumulatively previous remaining enclosure until had choose correct out 30 objects. Second, administered classical delayed response (DRT) same animals maximum s. In DRT, poor not better than chance after 15 s already. However, individuals excelled 24 h-DMT, performing above level h even tenfold number from compared DRT. Moreover, individual performances were correlated, typical age effects on be detected both experiments. Together, these results suggest that domains, h-DMT examines long-term memory. The outcome DRT more difficult assign since performed only moderately 0-s condition. This puts question this task design indeed other processes.

Language: Английский

Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) excel in a one-trial spatial memory test, yet perform poorly in a classical memory task

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 5, 2025

Abstract When quantifying animal cognition, memory represents one of the most tested domains and is key to understanding cognitive evolution. Memory tests thus play an important role in comparative research, yet slight variations experimental settings can substantially change outcome, questioning whether different tap into systems or they test at all. Here, we first assessed performance 16 common marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus ) two distinct paradigms varying their format delay. First, examined marmoset a 24-hour delay (24h-DMT) which could freely explore environment with three novel objects contained food. We retention day after, procedure was iterated cumulatively previous remaining enclosure until had choose correct out 30 objects. Second, administered classical delayed response (DRT) same animals maximum seconds. In DRT, poor not better than chance after 15 seconds already. However, individuals excelled 24h-DMT, performing above level 24h even tenfold number from compared DRT. Moreover, individual performances were correlated, typical age effects on be detected both experiments. Together, these results suggest that domains, 24h-DMT examines long-term memory. The outcome DRT more difficult assign since performed only moderately 0-second condition. This puts question this task design indeed other processes.

Language: Английский