Journals can help protect animal welfare—Response | Science

We appreciate Carbone’s long-standing contributions to laboratory animal welfare and thank him for his thoughtful engagement in our study. Our experimental design was developed with explicit attention to refinement and necessity. Before the start of the study, the monkeys were trained in audiomotor synchronization using standard neuroscientific methods in primates, which enable voluntary sitting, postural comfort and substantial freedom of movement, with only minimal restraint required to ensure task accuracy and safety. Hydration protocols were conservative, strictly and continually monitored and adjusted to maintain health and normal body weight.