Scott Jack T, Mendivez Vasquez Bruno L, Stewart Brian J, Panacheril Dylan D, Rajit Darren K J, Fan Angela Y, Bourne James A
bioRxiv. 2024 Nov 26:2024.11.26.625450. doi: 10.1101/2024.11.26.625450.
Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are pivotal for unlocking the complexities of human cognition, yet traditional cognitive studies remain constrained to specialized laboratories. To revolutionize this paradigm, we present : an open-source, scalable in-cage platform tailored for freely behaving experiments in small primate species such as the common marmoset ( ). includes modular operant chambers that operate autonomously and integrate seamlessly with home cages, eliminating human intervention. Our results showcase the power of to train experimentally naïve marmosets in touchscreen-based cognitive tasks. Remarkably, across two independent facilities, marmosets achieved touchscreen proficiency within two weeks and successfully completed tasks probing behavioral flexibility and working memory. Moreover, enabled precise synchronization of behavioral data with electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings from freely moving animals, opening new frontiers for neurobehavioral research. By making openly accessible, we aim to democratize cognitive experimentation with small NHPs, narrowing the translational gap between preclinical models and human cognition.
Cognitive neuroscience research involving nonhuman primates (NHPs) has traditionally been confined to a few highly specialized laboratories equipped with advanced infrastructure, expert knowledge, and specialized resources for housing and testing these animals. The common marmoset ( ), a small NHP species, has gained popularity in cognitive research due to its ability to address some of these challenges. However, behavioral studies in marmosets remain labor-intensive and restricted mainly to experts in the field, making them less accessible to the broader scientific community. To address these barriers, we introduce an open and accessible platform designed for automated cognitive experiments in home cage settings with marmosets. This system supports the integration of cognitive behavioral analysis with wireless neural recordings, is cost-effective, and requires minimal technical expertise to build and operate.
非人灵长类动物（NHPs）对于解开人类认知的复杂性至关重要，但传统的认知研究仍局限于专业实验室。为了彻底改变这一模式，我们推出了：一个开源的、可扩展的笼内平台，专为普通狨猴等小型灵长类物种的自由行为实验量身定制。该平台包括模块化操作箱，可自主运行并与饲养笼无缝集成，消除了人为干预。我们的结果展示了该平台在基于触摸屏的认知任务中训练未经实验的狨猴的能力。值得注意的是，在两个独立的设施中，狨猴在两周内就掌握了触摸屏操作，并成功完成了探索行为灵活性和工作记忆的任务。此外，该平台还能使行为数据与自由活动动物的皮层脑电图（ECoG）记录精确同步，为神经行为研究开辟了新的前沿领域。通过公开提供该平台，我们旨在使小型非人灵长类动物的认知实验民主化，缩小临床前模型与人类认知之间的转化差距。
涉及非人灵长类动物（NHPs）的认知神经科学研究传统上一直局限于少数配备先进基础设施、专业知识以及用于饲养和测试这些动物的专门资源的高度专业化实验室。普通狨猴作为一种小型非人灵长类物种，因其能够应对其中一些挑战而在认知研究中受到欢迎。然而，狨猴的行为研究仍然劳动强度大，并且主要限于该领域的专家，使得广大科学界较难接触到。为了解决这些障碍，我们引入了一个开放且易于使用的平台，用于在饲养笼环境中对狨猴进行自动化认知实验。该系统支持将认知行为分析与无线神经记录相结合，具有成本效益，并且构建和操作所需的技术专业知识最少。
