Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Quantitative data on training new world primates to urinate.

Tessa E Smith1, Josephine M McCallister, Stephen J Gordon

  • 1Biology Department, University College Chester, Chester CB1 4BJ, UK. tessa.smith@chester.ac.uk

American Journal of Primatology
|September 10, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Operant conditioning effectively trains callitrichid primates (monkeys) to urinate on demand, increasing sample collection for research. This method requires minimal cost and disturbance, proving successful across three species.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Validating the underpinnings of water corticosterone measurement for aquatic amphibians.

F1000Research·2025
Same author

A double ovulation protocol for Xenopus laevis produces doubled fertilisation yield and moderately transiently elevated corticosterone levels without loss of egg quality.

PloS one·2024
Same author

Hospital bed replacement for acute care of children at home during the COVID-19 pandemic through a Hospital-in-the-Home programme.

Archives of disease in childhood·2023
Same author

Social roles influence cortisol levels in captive Livingstone's fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii).

Hormones and behavior·2022
Same author

Opportunistic influenza vaccination in the home: broadening access in isolated times.

Archives of disease in childhood·2020
Same author

Urinary steroid and gonadotropin excretion across the reproductive cycle in female Wied's black tufted-ear marmosets (Callithrix kuhli).

American journal of primatology·2020

Area of Science:

  • Primate behavior and welfare
  • Animal training and behavior modification
  • Veterinary and physiological sample collection

Background:

  • Collecting physiological samples from non-human primates can be challenging.
  • Developing efficient and non-invasive methods for sample collection is crucial for research.
  • Callitrichid primates are a common model species in various scientific disciplines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess operant conditioning for training callitrichid primates to urinate on demand.
  • To quantify the effectiveness of positive reinforcement techniques in this context.
  • To determine the impact of sample collection procedures on urination behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Three callitrichid species (Leontopithecus rosalia, Callithrix geoffroyi, Saguinus imperator) were trained using operant conditioning and positive reinforcement.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Training involved distinct phases: habituation, control, training, maintenance, and collection.
  • Sessions were conducted thrice weekly at dawn, with rewards for urination.

    • Main Results:

    • The number of sessions required varied by species (5 for L. rosalia, 6 for C. geoffroyi, 8 for S. imperator).
    • Urination rates and the proportion of animals urinating significantly increased during training, maintenance, and collection phases compared to the control.
    • Trainer presence during sample collection did not negatively affect urination behavior.

    Conclusions:

    • Operant conditioning is a viable and efficient method for training callitrichid primates to urinate on demand.
    • This technique enhances the quantity, proportion, and speed of urine sample collection for physiological analysis.
    • The training method incurs minimal cost, time, and disturbance, making it practical for research settings.