# An Integrative Approach to the Study of Cognitive Abilities in a Non-Human Primate Model in a Virology Laboratory Environment

## TL;DR

This paper outlines methods for studying cognitive abilities in non-human primates in a virology lab to better understand cognitive impairments from infections.

## Contribution

The paper introduces new techniques for assessing cognitive functions in primates under specific virology research conditions.

## Key findings

- Techniques for evaluating mnemonic functions and attentional focus in primates are described.
- Approaches for training and selecting primates for virological research are outlined.
- Gender differences in learning abilities and housing impacts on test results are analyzed.

## Abstract

Non-human primates, due to their similarities in immune response to humans, are the preferred model for studying infectious processes and any associated cognitive impairments. Behavioral tests are indispensable for investigating pathogenesis in neuroinfections, especially those that do not manifest with noticeable clinical symptoms, as well as in the transition to a chronic form of the disease. Modeling viral infection requires specialized experimental conditions. Our work describes techniques for investigating mnemonic functions, tiredness, attentional focus, quick-wittedness, and basic behavioral responses in primates under the assumed conditions for infections with viruses that do not have an airborne route of transmission. It also outlines approaches to the training and selection of primates for virological research, as well as analyzing gender differences in learning abilities, the impact of housing conditions on the results, and the correlation between training success and behavioral test scores. These methods will allow a more detailed study of non-human primates as a model for researching cognitive and behavioral impairments under infectious and immune stress, as well as the design of less energy-intensive experiments for evaluating the efficacy and safety of therapeutic and prophylactic strategies at early stages of infection.