As a scientific institution,
the decisions we make about
animal wellness are rooted
in peer-reviewed research
conducted in the wild or at
other zoological facilities.
In recent years, several scientific studies have been
conducted at the Zoo, and our animal care staff are
contributing to the global understanding of the species
they care for.
How and Why Do We Make Certain Choices?
To find out, Dr. Darby Proctor, an assistant professor of
psychology at Florida Institute of Technology, has turned
to our primates.
Free to come and go as they please, the test “subjects”—
most often spider monkeys—are given simple touchscreen
computer games and reinforced with food rewards.
Dr. Proctor and her students analyze the gameplay to
determine whether the subjects’ decisions are rooted
more in logic or emotion. These observations are being
used to build a long-term database that informs her
experimental work and allows Zoo staff to track behavioral
changes. The results of this work will also guide keepers
as they formulate, analyze and share their own studies.
< Matilda, a
ring-tailed lemur,
demonstrates her
computer skills, too.
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