Positive reinforcement-based magnet training permits social housing in catheterized squirrel monkeys.

Abstract

Background: Non-human primates play a critical role in neuroscience research. Though they are social animals, laboratory study requirements can sometimes require single housing and thereby prevent social housing.

New method: To eliminate single housing and promote well-being within our squirrel monkey colony, we used positive reinforcement training in combination with magnetic/mechanical clasps and custom jackets to permit pair housing of catheterized squirrel monkeys used in behavioral studies.

Results: Adult Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis monkeys (n = 7) readily progressed through a six-stage training procedure for cooperative handling and transport from the home cage to the experimental testing rooms.

Comparison with existing methods and conclusions: Given the evidence of isolation induced stress and neurobiological consequences in multiple species, and consistent with an increased regulatory emphasis on social housing of non-human primates, the methods presented herein provide a method for handling squirrel monkeys in behavioral studies that is compatible with social housing.