Objective: The delayed response test based on the Wisconsin Universal Tester is a common method to evaluate the learning and memory ability of non-human primates. The experiment is affected by many factors during the process. The learning and memory ability has important reference significance and value.
Methods: In this study, male cynomolgus monkeys aged 8 to 9 years were selected as the experimental research objects. The modified Wisconsin universal tester was used to test, and the correct rate of food acquisition by cynomolgus monkeys was used to evaluate the training times, evaluation frequency, interval evaluation time, and delay time. The effects of experimental factors such as the number of trapped food boxes on the results.
Results: When the number of training sessions in the training phase was reduced (less than 10 times), the correct rate of cynomolgus monkeys getting food was unstable and showed a significant downward trend; under the premise of sufficient training, the evaluation frequency had a significant impact on cynomolgus monkeys obtaining food. The effect of the correct rate of cynomolgus monkeys is small; 3 months after routine training, the cynomolgus monkeys can still obtain 65% of the correct rate of food acquisition; after increasing the delay time, the correct rate of some cynomolgus monkeys in acquiring food will be significantly reduced; in addition , when there are more than 3 trap food boxes, the correct rate of cynomolgus monkeys getting food is generally lower than 65%.
Conclusion: Reasonable setting of experimental parameters in training and evaluation stages has important influence and significance on the evaluation of non-human primate learning and memory functions.