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An automatic experimental apparatus to study arm reaching in New World monkeys
Allen Yin1, Jehi An1, Gary Lehew2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Center for Neuroengineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Journal of Neuroscience Methods
|March 2, 2016
Summary
Researchers developed a novel automated apparatus for controlled arm-reaching tasks in New World monkeys. This tool facilitates neurophysiological studies by enabling automated control and freeing experimenters from manual tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Primate Research
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- New World monkeys are valuable models in biomedical and neurophysiological research.
- Existing methods lack controlled arm-reaching tasks for these species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, automated apparatus for controlled arm-reaching tasks in New World monkeys.
- To facilitate neurophysiological research in these primate models.
Main Methods:
- A fully automated, pneumatically driven, portable, and reconfigurable apparatus was designed and built.
- The apparatus was utilized to train two owl monkeys in a visually-cued arm-reaching task.
Main Results:
- The apparatus enabled automated control of arm-reaching tasks.
- Neural recordings from M1 neurons demonstrated directional tuning during the task.
Conclusions:
- The developed apparatus offers automated experimental control, reducing the need for manual operation.
- This system provides a valuable tool for advancing neurophysiological research in New World monkeys.
