The use of positive reinforcement training in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) for voluntary presentation for IM injections (2006)

Russell, J. L., Taglialatela, J. P., Hopkins, W. D.

Abstract

Positive reinforcement has been used to gain the cooperation of captive primates for research and management needs. In this study, ten chimpanzees .. were trained to present for intramuscular (IM) injections. Clicker training was used to teach subjects to present their leg and accept an injection. .. Subjects reached criterion for presenting for a touch from a needle in 7 to 44 training sessions. .. These results suggest that through the use of positive reinforcement, chimpanzees can be quickly and reliably trained to present for injections as part of a research protocol requiring multiple accesses.