Cognitive Strategy Accounts for Failure on a Relational Memory Task in Non-Human Primates.

ABSTRACT: Relational memory, the ability to flexibly encode and retrieve associations among distinct elements, is critically dependent on the hippocampus and declines with age in humans. The Transverse Patterning (TP) task is designed to probe relational memory by requiring learning of hierarchical, circular stimulus relationships (e.g., A+ B-, B+ C-, C+ A-), a structure akin to rock-paper-scissors. In humans, TP performance is reliably impaired by hippocampal damage and aging. In non-human primates, however, findings have been inconsistent, with some studies demonstrating clear hippocampal dependence, while others report no impairment or even improvements following hippocampal lesions. This raises the possibility that species differences in cognitive strategy use may underlie these divergent outcom

SUBMITTER: Vanderlip CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12908630 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature