A cage-based training, cognitive testing and enrichment system optimized for rhesus macaques in neuroscience research
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2017 |
Authors: |
A. Calapai, M. Berger, M. Niessing, K. Heisig, R. Brockhausen, S. Treue, A. Gail |
Publication/Journal: |
Behavior Research Methods |
Keywords: |
acquisition, animal, animal welfare, automated testing, baboons papio-papio, behavioral management, cognitive neuroscience, computerized test systems, cortex, environmental enrichment, experimental, housing, macaca-mulatta, mathematical, monkey, mt neurons, non-human primates, parietal, performance, psychology, receptive-field, representation |
ISBN: |
1554-351X |
Abstract:
In neurophysiological studies with awake non-human primates (NHP), it is typically necessary to train the animals over a prolonged period of time on a behavioral paradigm before the actual data collection takes place. Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) are the most widely used primate animal models in system neuroscience. Inspired by existing joystick- or touch-screen-based systems designed for a variety of monkey species, we built and successfully employed a stand-alone cage-based training and testing system for rhesus monkeys (eXperimental Behavioral Intrument, XBI). The XBI is mobile and easy to handle by both experts and non-experts; animals can work with only minimal physical restraints, yet the ergonomic design successfully encourages stereotypical postures with a consistent positioning of the head relative to the screen. The XBI allows computer-controlled training of the monkeys with a large variety of behavioral tasks and reward protocols typically used in systems and cognitive neuroscience research.