Joystick acquisition in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella)

I examined joystick acquisition in four tufted capuchins under two directional relationships of joystick movement and resultant cursor displacement. I also recorded the development of cursor tracking and body-tilting during skill acquisition. Rates of acquisition were comparable between the two conditions. After mastering the task in one condition, subjects re-mastered the task at an accelerated rate in the opposing condition. All subjects significantly increased or maintained high proportions of cursor tracking throughout acquisition. All subjects demonstrated a postural tilt upon task mastery that was found more often in the direction of goal location than that of required joystick movement. This suggests that body-tilting reflects attentional demands of this unique testing system and not the motoric requirements of the task.