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CN118592356A — Animal cognitive training system, animal cognitive training method and virtual device

Assignee: Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IBP) · Inventors: Jiang Liuming, Liu Ning, Liang Zhen (pinyin transliteration of the CN record) Filed: 2024-08-08 (CN202411081256.XA) · Published: 2024-09-06 · Status: Pending (CN)

Abstract

An animal cognitive training system with a two-tier architecture: an upper control machine, located away from the animal feeding room, sends training instructions to a lower execution machine placed near the animals; the lower machine starts the training experiment on receipt and determines whether to reward the animal based on whether its actions match preset training actions — aimed at training animals near their living environment so behaviour better reflects autonomous, natural conditions.

Key technical features

  • Brain recording: NO — touchscreen touch-position capture + remote display/control link; no camera/video, no EEG/electrodes
  • Species: Animal (non-human primate) — 207 “animal”; 8 “monkey”; 4 “NHP”; background and worked examples address NHPs (“animals, such as non-human primates (NHPs), are the best animal model in biomedical research”); zero rodent/mouse
  • Classification: A01K15/02 (training or exercising equipment for animals); A01K15/00; Y02A40/70
  • Architecture: upper control machine = remote site; issues training instructions; synchronously displays the training experiment and the animal’s touch-position information in real time; transmits user control instructions to the lower machine (claim 7); lower execution machine = control module + display-touch module + reward module; rewards: solenoid valve on a water outlet pipe (claim 2) or electric bin gate on a fruit bin (claim 3); DC-DC power isolation protects the single-chip controller from solenoid peak voltages
  • Claim scope: system (claims 1-7), method (claim 8), virtual/software device (claim 9)
  • Citations: 9 patent citations

Significance

Addresses two long-standing constraints on awake non-human primate research: behavioural training requires long sessions in dedicated laboratory spaces, and laboratory environments “deviate from the NHP population” so measured behaviour poorly reflects autonomous activity. The two-tier design lets one remote control station supervise the experiment while a local execution machine runs touchscreen training with water or fruit rewards in the animal room; the remote live view of the experiment and touch responses supports supervision and intervention without entering the room. Third CAS institute in this patent collection (after the Kunming Institute of Zoology and SIAT); complements the SIAT in-cage NHP cognitive testing system (CN114532247A) as a second in-colony testing architecture for non-human primates.

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