Event memory and misinformation effects in a gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

Anim Cogn. 2004 Apr;7(2):93-100. doi: 10.1007/s10071-003-0194-7. Epub 2003 Oct 2.

Abstract

Event memory and misinformation effects were examined in an adult male gorilla ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla). The gorilla witnessed a series of unique events, involving a familiar person engaging in a novel behavior (experiment 1), a novel person engaging in a novel behavior (experiment 2), or the presentation of a novel object (experiment 3). Following a 5- to 10-min retention interval, a tester gave the gorilla three photographs mounted on wooden cards: a photograph depicting the correct person or object and two distractor photographs drawn from the same class. The gorilla responded by returning a photograph. If correct, he was reinforced with food. Across three experiments, the gorilla performed significantly above chance at recognizing the target photograph. In experiment 4, the gorilla showed at-chance performance when the event was followed by misinformation (a class-consistent, but incorrect photograph), but significantly above-chance performance when no misinformation occurred (either correct photograph or no photograph). Although the familiarity can account for these data, they are also consistent with an episodic-memory interpretation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Deception*
  • Discrimination Learning*
  • Gorilla gorilla / psychology*
  • Male
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual*
  • Photography
  • Recognition, Psychology*