Rhesus macaque chair training and automatized cognitive testing
From the perspective of the monkeys involved in cognitive neuroscience research, several aspects of their daily life seem particularly challenging. In particular, learning to tolerate the restrain when sitting in the primate chair, and battling boredom arising from the captivity. This project aimed at addressing these issues to improve the monkeys' wellbeing. Firstly, an automated and computerized chair helmet was designed to allow the animals to comfortably sit in a primate chair and train at their own pace and will, without leaving their home enclosure and peers. Secondly, a video-game touchscreen based training and enrichment protocol were programmed, to allow animals to interact directly from their own home enclosure.