Home cage presentation of complex discrimination tasks to marmosets and rhesus monkeys

H. S. Crofts, N. G. Muggleton, A. P. Bowditch, P. C. Pearce, D. J. Nutt, E. A.M. Scott

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

The study reported here demonstrates the feasibility of presenting cognitive tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) to either marmosets or rhesus monkeys in their home cages. This location of testing offers opportunities for the measurement of additional indices, for example spontaneous behaviour and electrophysiology as well as facilitating repeated test presentation. Results from 12 marmosets and 4 rhesus monkeys which have completed several sequences of an eight-stage discrimination task involving simple discriminations, compound discriminations and reversals are reported. The paradigm developed has application in long-term studies. Tests from CANTAB have been used extensively in normal humans as well as a range of patient groups and to assess drug effects. Additionally some of these tests have been presented to marmosets to examine neuropsychological functioning. This comparative approach facilitates meaningful cross species comparison, particularly in the study of the effects of pharmacological intervention.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)207-214
Number of pages8
JournalLaboratory Animals
Volume33
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

Keywords

  • Behaviour
  • CANTAB
  • Discrimination
  • Home cage
  • Marmoset
  • Rhesus monkey

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