Abstract
After bilateral removal of the frontal association areas, 2 monkeys (Macaca mulatto and Cercocebus torquatus) succeeded in delayed response performance when darkness was maintained during the delay interval. Unlike normal animals, however, the operated animals failed when a bright light was turned on in the cage during the delay interval. The delayed response procedure involves 3 successive parts (1) cue presentation, (2) delay interval, and (3) the time of choice. These results make necessary the revision of previous hypotheses concerning the functions of the frontal association areas. The hypothesis is suggested that removal of the frontal association areas in primates leads to a marked impairment in their general capacities for memory, because the loss of these areas renders them more susceptible to retroactive inhibition.

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