Performance norms for a rhesus monkey neuropsychological testing battery: acquisition and long-term performance

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Primate Cognition
• Behavioral Pharmacology

Background:

• Human neuropsychological tests are valuable for assessing cognitive function.
• Non-human primates serve as crucial models for understanding human brain function and neurological disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a computerized behavioral test battery for rhesus monkeys.
• To assess cognitive behaviors including memory, attention, motivation, reaction time, and motor coordination.
• To establish a baseline for future studies on central nervous system (CNS) manipulations.

Main Methods:

• A computerized battery, adapted from human tests (e.g., CANTAB), was administered to rhesus monkeys.
• Tasks included delayed non-matching to sample (DNMS), spatial working memory (SOSS), attention (ID/ED), motivation (PR), reaction time (RT), and a bimanual task.
• Performance was maintained by food reinforcement, and task difficulty was parametrically manipulated.

Main Results:

• Rhesus monkeys reliably performed multiple cognitive tasks, demonstrating long-term behavioral assessment capabilities.
• Performance was sensitive to parametric increases in task difficulty, mirroring human responses.
• Established baseline data for healthy normal monkeys for future CNS manipulation studies.

Conclusions:

• The computerized battery effectively assesses a range of cognitive functions in rhesus monkeys.
• The battery's sensitivity to task difficulty suggests its utility for detecting subtle behavioral changes.
• This tool provides a valuable platform for investigating CNS disorders like NeuroAIDS and drug effects in primates.