Efficient Cooperative Restraint Training With Rhesus Macaques
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2013 |
Authors: |
Eliza Bliss-Moreau, Jacob H. Theil, Gilda Moadab |
Publication/Journal: |
Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science |
Publisher: |
Routledge |
Keywords: |
chair training, negative reinforcement, nonhuman primate, positive reinforcement, restraint |
ISBN: |
1088-8705 |
Abstract:
It is sometimes necessary for nonhuman primates to be restrained during biomedical and psychosocial research. Such restraint is often accomplished using a primate chair. This article details a method for training adult rhesus macaques to cooperate with a chair restraint procedure using positive and negative reinforcement. Successful training was accomplished rapidly in approximately 14 training days. The success of this training technique suggests that this method represents a refinement to traditional techniques. Further, this method worked effectively for animals previously deemed unfit for traditional pole-and-collar training.