Magnetic resonance imaging

We have documented the ways in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is contributing to the 3Rs in neuroscience studies involving non-human primates, in a short paper published in NeuroImage.

Over the last decade, MRI has enabled substantial improvements in monkey welfare, by enhancing the selection and assignment of animals, guiding the manufacture of custom-fitted recording and head fixation devices, and assisting with the diagnosis of health issues and their treatment. MRI is also helping to optimise the use of non-human pimates and make greater scientific progress than would otherwise be made using larger numbers of animals, including through open data-sharing initiatives such as PRIME-DE.

Given the advantages of MRI for electrophysiology experiments and animal welfare, consideration should be given to focusing non-human primate electrophysiology laboratories around MRI facilities.