This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Regression in performance was common after the initial restraint (that is, 6 monkeys showed regression after the time when the pole was first attached to the collar), and, although temporary, required additional time to work through. Skip to content. Positive reinforcement, in the form of small, highly preferred food items, was provided to macaques for cooperating (that is, sitting calmly with the pole touching collar) throughout the training process. The world's largest professional and amateur pole dance competition series. Habituation, by using systematic desensitization in the refined procedure (instead of flooding as in the traditional procedure), and counter-conditioning were key elements in our refinement of pole-and-collar training. Given the need for animals to be fully trained and exhibiting calm behavior throughout the procedure within a particular timeframe, when a macaque did not progress after several attempts at a particular step by using only PRT methods, the squeeze mechanism (the element of NRT used in the context of the current study) was incorporated into the training, by using both systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques.When the macaques were not progressing within the time allotted for the shaping procedures to meet experimental study deadlines (which varied for each subject depending on when the animal was assigned to the study protocol but were within a 1- to 4-mo time frame), the squeeze mechanism was applied to accelerate training progress.
In some cases, to promote animal and trainer safety, a second pole and trainer were used; in these cases, the macaque was habituated to these changes. Through shaping, subjects are reinforced for cooperating with individual steps, ultimately leading toward acquisition of the goal behavior of allowing the pole to attach to the collar and exiting the cage to sit in the restraint chair. Control Pole Cam Video - Fearful Black Lab Caught - YouTube Click here for care and operating instructions. This is important to keep in mind when preparing animals for chair restraint. This progress was accomplished generally by habituating the macaque to the use of the squeeze mechanism and then using it during training sessions as necessary. The world's largest professional and amateur pole dance competition series. When the squeeze mechanism was released, the macaque was provided with a reward. Applying a combination of PRT and limited NRT resulted in all macaques being trained to fully cooperate for research procedures within the set time frame, making this training regimen an effective one.This project was supported by NIH/NCRR Grant P51OD011132 to the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, and the following individual NIH/NINDS grants (TW): RO1NS049474, R01NS054976, R01NS042937, R01NS062876, and P50NS071669. Therefore, 4 wk before the start of experimental procedures that required the monkey to be restrained in the chair for a period of time, the training progress was evaluated jointly by the trainer and the Primate Training Specialist. In contrast to the more traditional method, the entire training process catered to each individual macaque's training progress and the overall time lines dictated by the study protocol.Training methods to achieve compliance in animals through the use of less-aversive techniques should be applied whenever possible. There are a wide variety of legal requirements that handlers and their organisations should be aware of from health and safety through to animal welfare. The squeeze mechanism was used to move more quickly through certain steps in the training process, but its use was limited, and its magnitude was based on each macaque's response.The number of macaques trained with PRT only or with a combination of PRT and NRT during each training step.Given time constraints, it was impractical to use only PRT techniques to prepare macaques for pole-and-collar transfer and chair restraint. Positive reinforcement training was used as much as possible. The trainer ‘clicked’ when the subject responded appropriately by staying calmly in position as the pole moved closer to its body in small increments and provided the animal with positive reinforcement.To monitor training progress, trainers recorded information about each training session including the session duration (in minutes), the highest training step reached for each session (step 1, establishing the bridge; step 2, stays in training position; step 3, tolerates the pole approaching; step 4, tolerates the pole touching a neutral area of the body; step 5, tolerates the pole touching the collar; step 6, tolerates the pole attaching to the collar; and step 7, exits cage on pole and transfers to chair), and whether negative reinforcement (that is, the squeeze mechanism) was used. On the basis of the current state of training, if it was deemed unlikely the animal would be fully trained in the remaining time, the Primate Training Specialist supplied an alternative training plan to move the monkey more quickly through the training steps.