Jul 27, 2025
Choice Reaction Time Reaching Task for Non-human Primate
- Daisuke Kase1,
- Robert S Turner2
- 1Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh;
- 2University of Pittsburgh
Protocol Citation: Daisuke Kase, Robert S Turner 2025. Choice Reaction Time Reaching Task for Non-human Primate. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.6qpvrwoq2lmk/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: July 17, 2025
Last Modified: July 27, 2025
Protocol Integer ID: 222710
Keywords: ASAPCRN, choice reaction time, behavioral task, reaching task, task to naïve nhp, naïve nhp, task for non, task
Funders Acknowledgements:
Aligning Science Across Parkinson's through the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF)
Grant ID: ASAP-020519
NIH
Grant ID: R01 NS093164
NIH
Grant ID: R01 NS091853
NIH
Grant ID: R01 NS070865
NIH
Grant ID: R01 NS117058
Abstract
This protocol describes the behavioral task used with both healthy and MPTP-induced hemiparkinsonian non-human primates in the Turner Lab at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the training procedure for introducing the task to naïve NHPs.
Materials
This task runs on the LabView software on the computer.
The LabView code for the task is provided on Zenodo at
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11397909
We need some hardware in addition to the software (listed below).
| Name | Product | RRID | Manufacture | Quantity | Link | Note | |
| LED | WP7113ID | Kingbright | 2 | https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/kingbright/WP7113ID/1747663 | These LEDs are used to show the location of reaching target to the subject. The color does not matter, but they need to be turned on with the TTL input. Manufacture and link are for examplar LEDs | ||
| Photoelectric sensor | GS5N | TAKEX | 3 | https://takex.com/us/photoelectric-sensors/mini-g-series | These sensors are used to detect subject's hand at the home-position and reaching target. | ||
| Power supply | D15-05 | Acopian | 1 | https://www.acopian.com/dual-pcb-5-10-12-15-m.html | This AC-DC power supply is used to provide power to the GS5N sensors. | ||
| Task control software | LabView | SCR_014325 | National Instruments | 1 | https://www.ni.com | ||
| Interface card | PXI-6224 | National Instruments | 1 | https://www.ni.com | The LabView software need to receive the signal from sensor and send the TTL to turn on the LEDs and smootie pump. Therefore, we need to have an interface card with digital in and out between sensors/LEDs and computer. Product information is for an examplar interface card. | ||
| Peristaltic pump | Masterflex L/S | Avantor | 1 | https://www.avantorsciences.com/us/en/applications/fluid-handling/masterflex-ls-series | We added a relay circuit to the pump, allowing it to be controlled by an external TTL pulse. Please note: This modification may void the product warranty. | ||
| Relay | TQ2-L-5V | Panasonic Electric Works | 1 | https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/panasonic-electric-works/TQ2-L-5V/251776 | This is one examplar relay circuit that we used to modify the peristaltic pump. |
Troubleshooting
Before start
This protocol involves non-human primates. Therefore, all users must obtain prior approval from their Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or an equivalent ethics committee before conducting any experiments described in this protocol.
Protocol for the subject (NHP)
Place hand on the home position.
Note: Successful placement is indicated by a buzzer linked to a photoelectric sensor at the home position.
Wait for the go-cue, which will be delivered by one of two LEDs in front of the subject.
Initiate a reach toward the LED once it turns on.
The target hold period begins when the subject reaches the target and activates the photoelectric sensor located there.
A small amount of smoothie is delivered if the subject successfully holds the target for a randomized duration.
Once reward delivery begins, the subject may return their hand to the home position to start the next trial.
Protocol for researchers training a naïve NHP
Use an arm restraint if you want the animal to use only one arm.
Place the smoothie delivery tubing near the animal’s mouth.
Randomly turn on one of the two target LEDs.
Manually deliver smoothie immediately if the animal initiates or completes a reach toward the illuminated LED.
Once the animal associates reaching to LED with smoothie delivery, proceed to train the home-position capture.
Set the home-position hold period as short as possible.
Wait for the animal to accidentally activate the sensor at the home position.
Note: A buzzer linked to the photoelectric sensor helps the animal associate hand placement at the correct location with task initiation.
Gradually increase the delay intervals once the animal learns the basic sequence of the task.
Protocol references
National Research Council (U.S.). Committee for the Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals., Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (U.S.), National Academies Press (U.S.). Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press,, 2011, p. xxv, 220 p.