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 Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Assessment of prenatal stress-related cortisol exposure: focus on cortisol accumulation in hair and nails.

Developmental psychobiology·2020
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 24, 2025

Behavioral Assessment of Manual Dexterity in Non-Human Primates
16:00

Behavioral Assessment of Manual Dexterity in Non-Human Primates

Published on: November 11, 2011

22.7K

Self-Injurious behavior in rhesus macaques: Issues and challenges.

Melinda A Novak1,2

  • 1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.

American Journal of Primatology
|December 28, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) in research monkeys is complex, with individual differences influencing its development and treatment. Prevention strategies focus on reducing early life stress and improving housing conditions.

Keywords:
environmental enrichmenthypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axispair housingpharmacotherapyrhesus macaquesself-injurious behavior

More Related Videos

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice
07:38

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice

Published on: September 20, 2024

1.8K
Gathering Self-Initiated Rat Behavioral Data to Characterize Post-Stroke Deficits
05:08

Gathering Self-Initiated Rat Behavioral Data to Characterize Post-Stroke Deficits

Published on: March 15, 2024

1.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 24, 2025

Behavioral Assessment of Manual Dexterity in Non-Human Primates
16:00

Behavioral Assessment of Manual Dexterity in Non-Human Primates

Published on: November 11, 2011

22.7K
Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice
07:38

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice

Published on: September 20, 2024

1.8K
Gathering Self-Initiated Rat Behavioral Data to Characterize Post-Stroke Deficits
05:08

Gathering Self-Initiated Rat Behavioral Data to Characterize Post-Stroke Deficits

Published on: March 15, 2024

1.4K

Area of Science:

  • Primate behavior
  • Animal welfare science
  • Veterinary behavioral medicine

Background:

  • Monkeys in research settings can develop abnormal behaviors, including self-injurious behavior (SIB).
  • The prevalence and underlying causes of SIB in laboratory settings are not fully understood.
  • Individual differences significantly impact SIB manifestation and treatment response.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the causes and contributing factors of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in research monkeys.
  • Identify effective treatment and prevention strategies for SIB.
  • Understand the role of individual differences in SIB development and response to interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Characterized SIB prevalence and associated environmental factors.
  • Observed SIB and control monkeys to identify triggers and potential precipitating factors (e.g., sleep, disease).
  • Evaluated reinforcement models (tension reduction, self-stimulation, social communication) and tested treatments (enrichment, social housing, pharmacotherapy).

Main Results:

  • No single treatment has completely eliminated SIB; individual differences affect treatment efficacy.
  • Identified colony management and health record risk factors for SIB.
  • Prevention efforts focus on reducing early life stress, promoting pair housing, and using positive reinforcement for procedures.

Conclusions:

  • SIB in research monkeys is a multifactorial disorder influenced by individual differences.
  • Current treatments are not universally effective, highlighting the need for personalized approaches.
  • Preventive strategies targeting early life stress and housing conditions show promise for reducing SIB incidence.