Device and method for testing common-estrus behavior of macaque

Abstract

The invention discloses a macaque common-estrus behavior testing device and method, and the device comprises two groups of macaque fixing mechanisms; the operation type task tester comprises a touch screen, a task completion reward assembly, a sound prompter and a controller. The task completion reward assembly and the sound prompter are both installed on the macaque fixing mechanism. The two tail micro-current stimulation assemblies are arranged, the two tail micro-current stimulation assemblies are installed on the two macaque fixing mechanisms respectively, and the two controllers are electrically connected with the two tail micro-current stimulation assemblies in a crossed mode; the terminal system, the touch screen, the task completion reward assembly, the sound prompter and the tail micro-current stimulation assembly are electrically connected with the terminal system. The method can be used for detecting whether the gene edited or spontaneous autism macaque has a common situation defect or not, so as to determine whether the autism model of the macaque is similar to the characteristic of the human autism disease or not, and evaluate the effectiveness of the model.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of prosocial behavior testing of non-human primates, and in particular to a device and method for testing empathy behavior of macaques. Background Art

[0002] Empathy is an important part of human prosocial behavior, that is, one individual responds to another individual's emotional changes (especially the "resonant" response to pain), which generates prosocial behaviors such as comfort and help. Rodents have empathic responses to their companions' painful behaviors, and primates also have empathic responses similar to humans. Abnormal empathic behavior may indicate neurological or psychiatric diseases. For example, people with autism and other social disorders generally lack empathic behavior, so the study of empathic behavior has clinical and social significance.

[0003] The method of studying animal empathy usually involves injecting chemical drugs, such as inflammatory drugs, into the skin to cause chronic pain in local parts of the animal's body, and then pairing them with companion animals to examine the empathetic behavior of their companions. This method is often used for small animals such as rodents, but it is not applicable to large animals, such as primates. Primates are precious, have complex emotional responses, and large individual differences. There are uncertainties in the pain-inducing time of inflammatory drugs, and the relationship between dose and pain response is unclear, which can easily lead to a longer stress response in primates, or adaptation of pain responses, making it difficult to obtain objective and accurate experimental results. Compared with chemical drug stimulation, physical electrical stimulation is short in duration, controllable in intensity, and has a clear relationship with pain response.

[0004] The prior art lacks relevant testing devices, based on which the present invention provides a macaque empathy behavior testing device and method. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a macaque empathy behavior testing device and method to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following solution: The present invention provides a macaque empathy behavior testing device, comprising:

[0007] A macaque fixing mechanism, wherein the macaque fixing mechanism is provided in two groups, and two experimental macaques are fixed on the two groups of macaque fixing mechanisms respectively;

[0008] An operational task tester, the operational task tester comprising a touch screen, a task completion reward component, a sound prompter and a controller, the task completion reward component and the sound prompter are both mounted on the macaque fixing mechanism, the touch screen is mounted on the top of the macaque fixing mechanism and is arranged corresponding to the test macaque, and the touch screen is electrically connected to the task completion reward component through the controller;

[0009] A tail microcurrent stimulation component, wherein two groups of the tail microcurrent stimulation components are provided, and the two groups of the tail microcurrent stimulation components are respectively installed on the two groups of the macaque fixing mechanisms, and the two groups of the controllers are cross-electrically connected to the two groups of the tail microcurrent stimulation components;

[0010] The terminal system, the touch screen, the task completion reward component, the sound prompter, and the tail microcurrent stimulation component are all electrically connected to the terminal system.

[0011] According to the macaque empathy behavior testing device provided by the present invention, the macaque fixing mechanism comprises a bottom plate, a fixed seat is fixedly connected to the top surface of the bottom plate, a fixing frame is installed on the fixed seat, and the experimental macaque is fixed on the fixed seat through the fixing frame;

[0012] Among them, the task completion reward component, the touch screen, and the sound prompter are all installed on the fixing frame, and the tail micro-current stimulation component is installed on the bottom plate.

[0013] According to the macaque empathy behavior testing device provided by the present invention, the task completion reward component includes a food reward device and a water reward device, and the food reward device and the water reward device are both electrically connected to the controller.

[0014] According to the macaque empathy behavior testing device provided by the present invention, the tail microcurrent stimulation component includes a microcurrent stimulator, an electric shock harness and a fixing clip. The microcurrent stimulator and the fixing clip are electrically connected through the electric shock harness. The fixing clip is clamped on the tail of the experimental macaque, and the microcurrent stimulator is electrically connected to the controller.

[0015] According to the macaque empathy behavior testing device provided by the present invention, the controller includes a single-chip microcomputer, and the single-chip microcomputer is fixed on the fixing frame.

[0016] According to the macaque empathy behavior testing device provided by the present invention, the fixing frame is made of stainless steel.

[0017] According to the macaque empathy behavior testing device provided by the present invention, four sets of universal wheels are installed on the bottom surface of the bottom plate, and the four sets of universal wheels are symmetrically arranged in pairs.

[0018] A method for testing empathy behavior of macaques, comprising the following steps:

[0019] Step 1: Select experimental macaques based on social and blood relationship factors, and train two macaques to get familiar with each other;

[0020] Step 2: Train the animal's cognitive ability by controlling the two sets of touch screens to light up at the same time through the controller. If the two macaques operate the touch screens respectively and the success rate reaches the set threshold, they will be rewarded through the task completion reward component;

[0021] Step 3, fix the two trained macaques on the macaque fixing mechanism, control the two sets of touch screens to light up at the same time through the controller, and during the two macaques respectively performing the operation tasks, the controller randomly controls the tail microcurrent stimulation component on the macaque fixing mechanism to give an electric shock to the tail of one macaque to affect its operation behavior, and observe the changes in the operation behavior of the macaque and the paired macaque;

[0022] Step 4: The terminal system records the operant task performance of the two macaques, including the performance before and after electric shock and the operant behavior latency index, for subsequent analysis.

[0023] The present invention discloses the following technical effects:

[0024] The present invention can achieve observable transient pain responses in animals by setting stimulations of different current intensities for different durations, thereby studying the empathic behavior of another paired animal. The electrical stimulation produced by this method is reversible and will not cause long-term harm to the animals. The present invention trains two macaques to become familiar with each other in an experimental setting and perform reward-related operant behaviors. While they are performing tasks together, one of the macaques is physically and electrically stimulated at the tail to observe the empathic response of the other macaque. The present invention can be used to test whether gene-edited or spontaneous autistic macaques have empathy defects, to clarify whether the macaque autism model is similar to the characteristics of human autism, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the model. The present invention can be expanded to research on cure strategies for social disorders induced by neuropsychiatric diseases. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0026] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the macaque empathy behavior testing device of the present invention.

[0027] Among them, 100, macaque fixing mechanism; 200, operational task tester; 300, tail microcurrent stimulation component; 400, terminal system; 110, base plate; 210, touch screen; 220, task completion reward component; 310, electric shock harness; 320, fixing clip. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0030] Reference Figure 1 The present invention provides a macaque empathy behavior testing device, comprising:

[0031] A macaque fixing mechanism 100, wherein the macaque fixing mechanism 100 is provided with two groups, and two experimental macaques are fixed on the two groups of macaque fixing mechanisms 100 respectively;

[0032] The operational task tester 200 includes a touch screen 210, a task completion reward component 220, a sound prompter and a controller. The task completion reward component 220 and the sound prompter are both installed on the macaque fixing mechanism 100. The touch screen 210 is installed on the top of the macaque fixing mechanism 100 and is set corresponding to the test macaque. The touch screen 210 is electrically connected to the task completion reward component 220 through the controller.

[0033] The tail microcurrent stimulation component 300 is provided with two groups, and the two groups of tail microcurrent stimulation components 300 are respectively installed on the two groups of macaque fixing mechanisms 100, and the two groups of controllers are cross-electrically connected with the two groups of tail microcurrent stimulation components 300;

[0034] The terminal system 400 , the touch screen 210 , the task completion reward component 220 , the sound prompter, and the tail microcurrent stimulation component 300 are all electrically connected to the terminal system 400 .

[0035] According to a further optimized solution, the macaque fixing mechanism 100 includes a bottom plate 110, a fixed seat is fixedly connected to the top surface of the bottom plate 110, a fixing frame is installed on the fixed seat, and the experimental macaque is fixed on the fixed seat through the fixing frame;

[0036] Among them, the task completion reward component 220, the touch screen 210, and the sound prompter are all installed on the fixed frame, and the tail microcurrent stimulation component 300 is installed on the base plate 110.

[0037] According to a further optimization scheme, the task completion reward component 220 includes a food reward device and a water reward device, and both the food reward device and the water reward device are electrically connected to the controller.

[0038] According to a further optimized solution, the tail microcurrent stimulation assembly 300 includes a microcurrent stimulator, an electric shock harness 310 and a fixing clamp 320. The microcurrent stimulator and the fixing clamp 320 are electrically connected via the electric shock harness 310. The fixing clamp 320 is clamped on the tail of the experimental macaque, and the microcurrent stimulator is electrically connected to the controller.

[0039] According to a further optimization scheme, the controller includes a single chip microcomputer, and the single chip microcomputer is fixed on a fixed frame.

[0040] To further optimize the solution, the fixing frame is made of stainless steel.

[0041] According to a further optimization scheme, four sets of universal wheels are installed on the bottom surface of the base plate 110, and the four sets of universal wheels are symmetrically arranged in pairs.

[0042] A method for testing empathy behavior of macaques, comprising the following steps:

[0043] Step 1: Select experimental macaques based on social and blood relationship factors, and train two macaques to get familiar with each other;

[0044] Step 2, training the animal's cognitive ability, controlling the two sets of touch screens 210 to light up at the same time through the controller, if the two macaques operate the touch screens 210 respectively, and the success rate reaches the set threshold, then the task completion reward component 220 will be used to reward;

[0045] Step 3, fix the two trained macaques on the macaque fixing mechanism 100, control the two sets of touch screens 210 to light up at the same time through the controller, and during the two macaques respectively performing the operation tasks, the controller randomly controls the tail micro-current stimulation component 300 on the macaque fixing mechanism 100 to give an electric shock to the tail of one macaque, thereby affecting its operation behavior, and observing the changes in the operation behavior of the macaque and the paired macaque;

[0046] Step 4: The terminal system 400 records the performance of the two macaques' operant task, including the performance before and after the electric shock, and the operant behavior latency index, for subsequent analysis.

[0047] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside" and "outside" etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0048] The embodiments described above are only descriptions of the preferred modes of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the design spirit of the present invention, various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present invention by ordinary technicians in this field should all fall within the protection scope determined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A macaque empathy behavior testing device, characterized in that: include: A macaque fixing mechanism (100), wherein the macaque fixing mechanism (100) is provided in two groups, and two experimental macaques are fixed on the two groups of macaque fixing mechanisms (100) respectively; An operational task tester (200), the operational task tester (200) comprising a touch screen (210), a task completion reward component (220), a sound prompter and a controller, the task completion reward component (220) and the sound prompter are both mounted on the macaque fixing mechanism (100), the touch screen (210) is mounted on the top of the macaque fixing mechanism (100) and is arranged corresponding to the test macaque, and the touch screen (210) is electrically connected to the task completion reward component (220) via the controller; A tail microcurrent stimulation component (300), wherein two groups of the tail microcurrent stimulation components (300) are provided, and the two groups of the tail microcurrent stimulation components (300) are respectively installed on the two groups of the macaque fixing mechanisms (100), and the two groups of the controllers are cross-electrically connected to the two groups of the tail microcurrent stimulation components (300); The terminal system (400), the touch screen (210), the task completion reward component (220), the sound prompter, and the tail microcurrent stimulation component (300) are all electrically connected to the terminal system (400).

2. A macaque empathy behavior testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The macaque fixing mechanism (100) comprises a bottom plate (110), the top surface of the bottom plate (110) being fixedly connected to a fixed seat, a fixing frame being installed on the fixed seat, and the experimental macaque is fixed on the fixed seat via the fixing frame; The task completion reward component (220), the touch screen (210), and the sound prompter are all installed on the fixing frame, and the tail microcurrent stimulation component (300) is installed on the bottom plate (110).

3. A macaque empathy behavior testing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The task completion reward component (220) comprises a food reward device and a water reward device, and both the food reward device and the water reward device are electrically connected to the controller.

4. The macaque empathy behavior testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tail microcurrent stimulation component (300) comprises a microcurrent stimulator, an electric shock harness (310) and a fixing clip (320); the microcurrent stimulator and the fixing clip (320) are electrically connected via the electric shock harness (310); the fixing clip (320) is clamped on the tail of an experimental macaque; and the microcurrent stimulator is electrically connected to the controller.

5. The macaque empathy behavior testing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The controller comprises a single chip microcomputer, and the single chip microcomputer is fixed on the fixing frame.

6. The macaque empathy behavior testing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fixing frame is made of stainless steel.

7. The macaque empathy behavior testing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: Four sets of universal wheels are installed on the bottom surface of the base plate (110), and the four sets of universal wheels are symmetrically arranged in pairs.

8. A method for testing empathy behavior of macaques, based on the empathy behavior testing device of macaques according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The steps include: Step 1: Select experimental macaques based on social and blood relationship factors, and train two macaques to get familiar with each other; Step 2, training the animal's cognitive ability, controlling the two sets of touch screens (210) to light up simultaneously through the controller, and if the two macaques operate the touch screens (210) respectively and the success rate reaches a set threshold, rewards are given through the task completion reward component (220); Step 3, the two trained macaques are fixed on the macaque fixing mechanism (100), and the two sets of touch screens (210) are controlled by the controller to light up simultaneously. While the two macaques are performing the operation tasks respectively, the controller randomly controls the tail micro-current stimulation component (300) on the macaque fixing mechanism (100) to give an electric shock to the tail of one macaque, thereby affecting its operation behavior, and observing the changes in the operation behavior of the macaque and the paired macaque; Step 4: The terminal system (400) records the performance of the two macaques' operational tasks, including the performance before and after the electric shock, and the indicators of the operational behavior latency, for subsequent analysis.

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