An automatic experimental apparatus to study arm reaching in New World monkeys

- An automated apparatus is developed for controlled experiments for small primates.
- Owl monkeys learned a visually-cued task using the apparatus.
- Neural recordings show direction tuning of M1 neurons.

BackgroundSeveral species of the New World monkeys have been used as experimental models in biomedical and neurophysiological research. However, a method for controlled arm reaching tasks has not been developed for these species.New methodWe have developed a fully automated, pneumatically driven, portable, and reconfigurable experimental apparatus for arm-reaching tasks suitable for these small primates.ResultsWe have utilized the apparatus to train two owl monkeys in a visually-cued arm-reaching task. Analysis of neural recordings demonstrates directional tuning of the M1 neurons.Comparison with existing method(s)Our apparatus allows automated control, freeing the experimenter from manual experiments.ConclusionThe presented apparatus provides a valuable tool for conducting neurophysiological research on New World monkeys.