Establishing meal patterns by lickometry in the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus): translational applications from the bench to the field and the clinic.

The ability to measure and interpret variables associated with feeding behavior and food intake is essential to a variety of nonhuman primate study modalities. The development of a technique to accurately and efficiently measure food intake and meal patterning in captivity will enhance both the interpretation of foraging behavior in the wild as well as our ability to model clinically relevant human feeding pathologies. In this study, we successfully developed the use of a rodent lickometer system to monitor meal patterning in captive common marmosets. We describe the modifications necessary for this type of instrumentation to be used successfully with marmosets. We define variables of interest that relate to both previous rodent literature and human clinical measures. Finally, we relate our findings to potential translational value for both primate field research and biomedical applications.