There are several variables that can affect the precision of repertoire acquisition in discrimination training. The number of choices presented in the discrete trials is still one variable little explored in the context of verifying in which situations the discriminative control is more easily established. The general objective of the present work is to describe the effects of the manipulation of the number of choices on performance in simple discrimination tasks in capuchin monkeys (Cebus cf. apella). In Experiment I, the subjects were given a discriminative training with three types of trials (2, 4, and 9 choices). A stimulus control test assessed if the acquired repertoire could be maintained when the stimuli used in the three types of trials were then presented in the two-choice fashion. Additionally, in Experiment II, we evaluated if the correct responses in previous discrimination training occurred due to selection of the S+, rejection of the S-, or mixed control (selection and rejection). This evaluation was carried out through a mask procedure. The results in Experiment I suggest that the exposure to a larger number of choices is an efficient strategy to establish the discriminated responses since the performance was accurate even when the number of choices was reduced to two. The results obtained in Experiment II show different data for the two subjects. M30 showed control by rejection and preference for mask and M31 showed mixed control. The present research shows a path to a more complete analysis of stimulus control in studies on the manipulation of the number of choices and indicates that this variable may be an efficient way to reduce the difficulty in acquisition of discriminations in applied context.
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