Cross-Modal Transfer of Training in Monkeys

Abstract

IN a previous communication¹ the question was raised whether monkeys that have been trained to discriminate at a high level of confidence between two dissimilar solid forms by vision (in the light) will maintain their accuracy of discrimination when objectively the same cues are later made available for discrimination only by palpation (in the dark). The absence of cross-modal transfer between visual and tactile shape discriminations was reported for four unoperated monkeys. Support of this finding was forthcoming from the study of seven additional animals with brain lesions².