title: An automatic experimental apparatus to study arm reaching in New World monkeys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have developed a fully automated, pneumatically driven, portable, and reconfigurable experimental apparatus for arm-reaching tasks suitable for these small primates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our apparatus allows automated control, freeing the experimenter from manual experiments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented apparatus provides a valuable tool for conducting neurophysiological research on New World monkeys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Center for Neuroengineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Center for Neuroengineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jehi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Duke Center for Neuroengineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lehew
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Center for Neuroengineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Mikhail A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lebedev
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Center for Neuroengineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience of Natal, Natal, Brazil; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. Electronic address: nicoleli@neuro.duke.edu.
authors.forename: Miguel A L
authors.initials: MAL
authors.lastname: Nicolelis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016645:Aotidae; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D023421:Models, Animal; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051078:Platyrrhini / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Animal model; Arm reaching; Behavior; Experimental control; Neural recordings; New World monkeys