Counting Behavior in Baboons: An Error-Contingency Reinforcement Schedule
2 baboons were trained to “count” by requiring the generation of specific numbers of tones associated with different visual stimuli. Performance was reinforced by food pellets on a fixed-ratio schedule of correctly-counted problem stimuli. After accurate and stable counting was obtained, reinforcement was made contingent upon the occurrence of at least one incorrectly-performed problem in the fixed-ratio sequence, in addition to the required number of correct solutions. Counting performances adjusted appropriately to the error contingency and prior levels of accuracy were readily recovered after the contingency was removed.