title: Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) as a primate model for behavioral neuroscience studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) has been proposed as a suitable bridge between rodents and larger primates. They have been used in several types of research including auditory, vocal, visual, pharmacological and genetics studies. However, marmosets have not been used as much for behavioral studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here we present data from training 12 adult marmosets for behavioral neuroscience studies. We discuss the husbandry, food preferences, handling, acclimation to laboratory environments and neurosurgical techniques. In this paper, we also present a custom built "scoop" and a monkey chair suitable for training of these animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The animals were trained for three tasks: 4 target center-out reaching task, reaching tasks that involved controlling robot actions, and touch screen task. All animals learned the center-out reaching task within 1-2 weeks whereas learning reaching tasks controlling robot actions task took several months of behavioral training where the monkeys learned to associate robot actions with food rewards.
  
  
  METHODS
  We propose the marmoset as a novel model for behavioral neuroscience research as an alternate for larger primate models. This is due to the ease of handling, quick reproduction, available neuroanatomy, sensorimotor system similar to larger primates and humans, and a lissencephalic brain that can enable implantation of microelectrode arrays relatively easier at various cortical locations compared to larger primates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All animals were able to learn behavioral tasks well and we present the marmosets as an alternate model for simple behavioral neuroscience tasks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Noeline W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Pohlmeyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Shubham
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Debnath
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Ramanamurthy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mylavarapu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Shijia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Justin C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Resources, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rothen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States. Electronic address: a.prasad@miami.edu.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prasad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001525:Behavioral Sciences / Q000379:methods*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D002144:Callithrix / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000379:methods; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: Behavioral neuroscience; Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus); Nonhuman primate (NHP); Small NHP model