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

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.