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Abstract
Planning was examined in four capuchin monkeys that completed a series of 192 two-dimensional computer mazes. These mazes differed in number of choice points (0-5) and non-obvious choices (0-3). Non-obvious choices were those in which the incorrect choice appeared to lead more directly to the goal than the correct choice. The number of choices varied randomly throughout testing. Planning abilities were measured in terms of the type of errors made by subjects while solving the mazes. Results of this study were compared to those of a previous study in which three capuchins solved the same mazes in order of increasing difficulty. The current study aimed to determine to what extent performance was influenced by properties of the mazes and by general experience solving these problems. The results of this study suggest that both of these factors affect the extent to which capuchins learn to plan when navigating through two-dimensional space.