title: Design of a head fixation device for experiments in behaving monkeys.
abstract: We have designed a new device for head fixation of behaving monkeys. The fixation device consists of a duralumin head ring mounted with four screw holders. It is firmly fixed to the animal's skull with four stainless steel screw pins. The head ring is then attached to a primate chair in any desirable position and angle using a set of adjustable plates. The device has been used for behavioral training that requires accurate gaze monitoring and for recording single-unit activity over a several-month period. The advantage of our device is that it is simple to use; it can be attached readily without major surgical procedures and it can be quickly removed when experiments are not running. This head fixation system is suitable for behavioral experiments and single-unit recording studies. It may also be applicable for studies on functional imaging of the macaque brain, by constructing it of non-magnetic materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isoda
authors.forename: Ken-Ichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
authors.forename: Narumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsuyama
authors.forename: Tomoka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naganuma
authors.forename: Naohiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Furusawa
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mushiake
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tanji
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D006257:Head / Q000502:physiology*; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology