Electric shock delivery system for rhesus monkeys: its effect on escape responding

Area of Science:

• Behavioral neuroscience
• Animal models in pharmacology

Background:

• Chronic electric shock delivery systems are crucial for behavioral neuroscience research.
• Existing systems may have limitations in specific experimental setups, such as those involving intravenous drug delivery in non-human primates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel, simple chronic electric shock delivery system for rhesus monkeys.
• To assess the system's efficacy as a negative reinforcer in a drug delivery experimental context.

Main Methods:

• Surgical implantation of electrodes in the lumbar muscle of rhesus monkeys.
• Utilizing a fixed-ratio 10 schedule where lever presses terminated shock and initiated a timeout.
• System evaluated across varying electric shock intensities (0-4 mA).

Main Results:

• Overall response rates increased with escalating electric shock intensity.
• Response characteristics were consistent with previous studies using different shock delivery systems and species.
• The electric shock delivered by the system functioned as a negative reinforcer.

Conclusions:

• The evaluated system is a viable and effective method for delivering chronic electric shock in rhesus monkeys.
• The system demonstrates ease of implantation, minimal tissue damage, and durability.
• It is suitable for experimental paradigms requiring negative reinforcement, particularly in studies involving intravenous drug delivery.