An automatic experimental apparatus to study arm reaching in New World monkeys

作者：Yin Allen; An Jehi; Lehew Gary; Lebedev Mikhail A; Nicolelis Miguel A L^*

来源：Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 2016, 264: 57-64.

DOI：10.1016/j.jneumeth.2016.02.017

• New World monkeys
• Animal model
• Behavior
• Neural recordings
• Arm reaching
• Experimental control

Background: Several species of the New World monkeys have been used as experimental models in biomedical and neurophysiological research. However, a method for controlled arm reaching tasks has not been developed for these species.
New method: We have developed a fully automated, pneumatically driven, portable, and reconfigurable experimental apparatus for arm-reaching tasks suitable for these small primates.
Results: We have utilized the apparatus to train two owl monkeys in a visually-cued arm-reaching task. Analysis of neural recordings demonstrates directional tuning of the M1 neurons.
Comparison with existing method(s): Our apparatus allows automated control, freeing the experimenter from manual experiments.
Conclusion: The presented apparatus provides a valuable tool for conducting neurophysiological research on New World monkeys.

• 出版日期2016-5-1