ABSTRACT
In relation to Cosmos experiments behavioural responses of rhesus monkeys were investigated and compared with their conditioned reflex activities. The animals with a distinct search-oriented behaviour showed a higher rate of recovery of instrumented reflexes, better stability of conditioned-reflex activities to stress-effects and a faster adaptation to them. Extreme effects associated with changes in the experimental environment and rigid fixation inhibited conditioned-reflex activities to a greater extent than strong but short-term exposures followed by tests in a normal environment. It was also demonstrated that variations of the sleep structure in stress situations were largely dependent on typological features of animals.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Animal/physiology , Conditioning, Classical/physiology , Escape Reaction/physiology , Exploratory Behavior/physiology , Models, Psychological , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Adaptation, Physiological/physiology , Adaptation, Psychological/physiology , Animals , Macaca mulatta , Male , Restraint, Physical , Sleep/physiology , Stress, Psychological/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Three types of conditioned learning dynamics were singled out in males of the rhesus monkeys by the speed of formation of a positive motor instrumental reflex and differentiation. Type I is characterized by the fastest mastering of separate subprograms and of the whole test program of conditioned behaviour, by optimal functional characteristics in the process of learning and by a high adaptivity in new conditions. The most prolonged formation of the conditioned reflexes occurs in monkeys of the III-d type; 50% of them do not master the whole learning program; monkeys with such type of learning dynamics have no adaptation of previously acquired conditioned stereotype to new environmental conditions. Monkeys of the II-nd type of learning dynamics possess intermediate characteristics. A notion is substantiated of interconnection of higher nervous activity properties with typological characteristics of conditioned learning dynamics in monkeys.
