Elsevier

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Volume 128, September 2021, Pages 152-164
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Review article
The squirrel monkey model in clinical neuroscience

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.06.006Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • Squirrel monkey can be investigated in meaningful samples.

  • Squirrel monkey cognition is far superior to marmoset monkeys.

  • Squirrel monkey develops age-related cerebral impairments similar to humans.

  • Squirrel monkey will fuel new translational discoveries for humans.

Abstract

Clinical neuroscience research relying on animal models brought valuable translational insights into the function and pathologies of the human brain. The anatomical, physiological, and behavioural similarities between humans and mammals have prompted researchers to study cerebral mechanisms at different levels to develop and test new treatments. The vast majority of biomedical research uses rodent models, which are easily manipulable and have a broadly resembling organisation to the human nervous system but cannot satisfactorily mimic some disorders. For these disorders, macaque monkeys have been used as they have a more comparable central nervous system. Still, this research has been hampered by limitations, including high costs and reduced samples. This review argues that a squirrel monkey model might bridge the gap by complementing translational research from rodents, macaque, and humans. With the advent of promising new methods such as ultrasound imaging, tool miniaturisation, and a shift towards open science, the squirrel monkey model represents a window of opportunity that will potentially fuel new translational discoveries in the diagnosis and treatment of brain pathologies.

Keywords

Primates
Clinical neuroscience
Translational
Animal model
Neuroimaging

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1

These authors Contributed equally.