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

ABSTRACT: Several 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.We have developed a fully automated, pneumatically driven, portable, and reconfigurable experimental apparatus for arm-reaching tasks suitable for these small primates.We 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.Our apparatus allows automated control, freeing the experimenter from manual experiments.The presented apparatus provides a valuable tool for conducting neurophysiological research on New World monkeys.

SUBMITTER: Yin A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4839179 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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

Yin Allen A An Jehi J Lehew Gary G Lebedev Mikhail A MA Nicolelis Miguel A L MAL

Journal of neuroscience methods 20160227

<h4>Background</h4>Several 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.<h4>New method</h4>We have developed a fully automated, pneumatically driven, portable, and reconfigurable experimental apparatus for arm-reaching tasks suitable for these small primates.<h4>Results</h4>We have utilized the apparatus to train two owl monkeys in ...[more]

PMID: 26928257

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