1
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Alvarado MV, Felip A, Espigares F, Oliveira RF. Unexpected appetitive events promote positive affective state in juvenile European sea bass. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22064. [PMID: 38086896 PMCID: PMC10716175 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49236-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Some animal species exhibit considerable physiological and behavioural alterations in response to captivity. It has been hypothesized, but rarely tested, that such changes reflect a negative affective state that is associated to this specific context. In the last years, judgement bias measures have emerged as reliable indicators of animal affective state, under the assumption that individuals in a negative affective state are more likely to evaluate ambiguous stimuli as negative and display therefore pessimistic behaviours. Here, we have developed a judgement bias task for juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) aiming to measure optimism/pessimism in this marine species, which have previously been reported to show important dysregulations in captive settings. Our results show that juvenile sea bass exhibit a considerable bias towards pessimistic behaviours in laboratory settings. Furthermore, juveniles that received an unexpected positive event during the judgement bias test displayed more optimistic responses toward ambiguous stimuli as compared to control fish, indicating a positive change in their affective state induced by the appetitive experience. These results reveal a direct interaction of the internal affective state with decision-making processing under ambiguity in juvenile European sea bass, highlighting therefore the potential of judgement bias tests as a tool for the advancement and improvement of our understanding of welfare in finfish aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- M V Alvarado
- Integrative Behavioural Biology Group, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - A Felip
- Fish Reproductive Physiology Group, Institute of Aquaculture Torre de la Sal, IATS-CSIC, Ribera de Cabanes, 12595, Cabanes, Castellón, Spain
| | - F Espigares
- Integrative Behavioural Biology Group, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - R F Oliveira
- Integrative Behavioural Biology Group, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal.
- ISPA-Instituto Universitário, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038, Lisbon, Portugal.
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2
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Bračić M, Bohn L, Siewert V, von Kortzfleisch VT, Schielzeth H, Kaiser S, Sachser N, Richter SH. Once an optimist, always an optimist? Studying cognitive judgment bias in mice. Behav Ecol 2022; 33:775-788. [PMID: 35812364 PMCID: PMC9262167 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals differ in the way they judge ambiguous information: some individuals interpret ambiguous information in a more optimistic, and others in a more pessimistic way. Over the past two decades, such "optimistic" and "pessimistic" cognitive judgment biases (CJBs) have been utilized in animal welfare science as indicators of animals' emotional states. However, empirical studies on their ecological and evolutionary relevance are still lacking. We, therefore, aimed at transferring the concept of "optimism" and "pessimism" to behavioral ecology and investigated the role of genetic and environmental factors in modulating CJB in mice. In addition, we assessed the temporal stability of individual differences in CJB. We show that the chosen genotypes (C57BL/6J and B6D2F1N) and environments ("scarce" and "complex") did not have a statistically significant influence on the responses in the CJB test. By contrast, they influenced anxiety-like behavior with C57BL/6J mice and mice from the "complex" environment displaying less anxiety-like behavior than B6D2F1N mice and mice from the "scarce" environment. As the selected genotypes and environments did not explain the existing differences in CJB, future studies might investigate the impact of other genotypes and environmental conditions on CJB, and additionally, elucidate the role of other potential causes like endocrine profiles and epigenetic modifications. Furthermore, we show that individual differences in CJB were repeatable over a period of seven weeks, suggesting that CJB represents a temporally stable trait in laboratory mice. Therefore, we encourage the further study of CJB within an animal personality framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Bračić
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Münster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Bohn
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Münster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Viktoria Siewert
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Holger Schielzeth
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Münster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Norbert Sachser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Münster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - S Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Münster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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3
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Whittaker AL, Barker TH. A consideration of the role of biology and test design as confounding factors in judgement bias tests. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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4
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Acevedo-Giraldo J, Sánchez J, Romero M. Effects of feed withdrawal times prior to slaughter on some animal welfare indicators and meat quality traits in commercial pigs. Meat Sci 2020; 167:107993. [PMID: 32388087 DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.107993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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5
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Ward SJ, Hosey G. The Need for a Convergence of Agricultural/Laboratory and Zoo-based Approaches to Animal Welfare. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2019; 23:484-492. [PMID: 31621407 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2019.1678038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Advances in animal welfare science have led to a high number of studies published for farm, laboratory and zoo animals, with a huge breadth of innovative topic areas and methodologies. This paper investigates the different approaches used to undertake welfare research in farm, laboratory and zoo animals due to the variety of constraints that each group brings. We also set recommendations to how groups can support each other in moving forwards to reduce animal suffering and promote a life worth living, a goal that all parties aim to achieve. We propose that researchers develop more collaborations across species, in particular to focus on the applied component of animal welfare and utilizing positive welfare indicators; facilitate knowledge transfer and share good practice worldwide; and accept small n based studies that can still be scientifically robust and provide individual-based steps into advances in our knowledge. Ultimately, we need to be progressing animal welfare science to a point beyond legislative needs, and ensure that "high animal welfare" becomes an additional mission statement for all animal-based industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Ward
- School of Animal Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University , Nottingham, UK
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6
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Roelofs S, Alferink FAC, Ipema AF, van de Pas T, van der Staay FJ, Nordquist RE. Discrimination learning and judgment bias in low birth weight pigs. Anim Cogn 2019; 22:657-671. [PMID: 31049725 PMCID: PMC6687882 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-019-01262-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Low birth weight (LBW) is a risk factor for cognitive and emotional impairments in humans. In pigs, LBW is a common occurrence, but its effects on cognition and emotion have received only limited scientific attention. To assess whether LBW pigs suffer from impaired cognitive and emotional development, we trained and tested 21 LBW and 21 normal birth weight (NBW) pigs in a judgment bias task. Judgment bias is a measure of emotional state which reflects the influence of emotion on an animal’s interpretation of ambiguous stimuli. Pigs were trained to perform a specific behavioral response to two auditory stimuli, predicting either a positive or negative outcome. Once pigs successfully discriminated between these stimuli, they were presented with intermediate, ambiguous stimuli. The pigs’ responses to ambiguous stimuli were scored as optimistic (performance of ‘positive’ response) or pessimistic (performance of ‘negative’ response). Optimistic or pessimistic interpretation of an ambiguous stimulus is indicative of a positive or negative emotional state, respectively. We found LBW pigs to require more discrimination training sessions than NBW pigs to reach criterion performance, suggesting that LBW causes a mild cognitive impairment in pigs. No effects of LBW on judgment bias were found, suggesting a similar emotional state for LBW and NBW pigs. This was supported by comparable salivary and hair cortisol concentrations for both groups. It is possible the enriched housing conditions and social grouping applied during our study influenced these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Roelofs
- Behaviour and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht University, Stratenum Building, Room STR5.203, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Studies, Swine Teaching and Research Center, New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 382 W Street Road, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA
| | - Floor A C Alferink
- Behaviour and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Study Programme Applied Biology, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Onderwijsboulevard 221, 5223 DE, 's Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | - Allyson F Ipema
- Behaviour and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, De Elst 1, 6708 WD, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa van de Pas
- Behaviour and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Studies, Swine Teaching and Research Center, New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 382 W Street Road, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA
| | - Franz Josef van der Staay
- Behaviour and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht University, Stratenum Building, Room STR5.203, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rebecca E Nordquist
- Behaviour and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands. .,Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht University, Stratenum Building, Room STR5.203, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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7
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Friel M, Kunc HP, Griffin K, Asher L, Collins LM. Positive and negative contexts predict duration of pig vocalisations. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2062. [PMID: 30765788 PMCID: PMC6375976 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38514-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Emotions are mental states occurring in response to external and internal stimuli and thus form an integral part of an animal’s behaviour. Emotions can be mapped in two dimensions based on their arousal and valence. Whilst good indicators of arousal exist, clear indicators of emotional valence, particularly positive valence, are still rare. However, positively valenced emotions may play a crucial role in social interactions in many species and thus, an understanding of how emotional valence is expressed is needed. Vocalisations are a potential indicator of emotional valence as they can reflect the internal state of the caller. We experimentally manipulated valence, using positive and negative cognitive bias trials, to quantify changes in pig vocalisations. We found that grunts were shorter in positive trials than in negative trials. Interestingly, we did not find differences in the other measured acoustic parameters between the positive and negative contexts as reported in previous studies. These differences in results suggest that acoustic parameters may differ in their sensitivity as indicators of emotial valence. However, it is important to understand how similar contexts are, in terms of their valence, to be able to fully understand how and when acoustic parameters reflect emotional states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Friel
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, UK.,Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Hansjoerg P Kunc
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, UK
| | - Kym Griffin
- School of Animal Rural & Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Lucy Asher
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Lisa M Collins
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. .,School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.
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8
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Barker TH, Kind KL, Groves PD, Howarth GS, Whittaker AL. Oestrous phase cyclicity influences judgment biasing in rats. Behav Processes 2018; 157:678-684. [PMID: 29653156 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The identification of cognitive bias has become an important measure of animal welfare. Negative cognitive biases develop from a tendency for animals to process novel information pessimistically. Judgment-bias testing is the commonplace methodology to detect cognitive biases. However, concerns with these methods have been frequently-reported; one of which being the discrepancy between male and female cognitive expression. The current study assessed the factors of social status and oestrus, to investigate whether oestrous cycle rotation, or subordination stress encouraged an increase in pessimistic responses. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were trained on an active-choice judgment bias paradigm. Responses to the ambiguous probe were recorded as optimistic or pessimistic. Oestrous phase was determined by assessing vaginal cytology in stained vaginal cell smears. Rats in the dioestrous phase and those rats considered to be subordinate demonstrated an increased percentage of pessimistic responses. However, no interaction between these factors was observed. This suggests that oestrous cyclicity can influence the judgment biases of female animals; a previously unreported finding. On this basis, researchers should be encouraged to account for both oestrous phase cyclicity and social status as an additional fixed effect in study design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Hugh Barker
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia.
| | - Karen Lee Kind
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - Peta Danielle Groves
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - Gordon Stanley Howarth
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia; Gastroenterology Department, Children, Youth and Women's Health Service, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alexandra Louise Whittaker
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
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9
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Raoult CMC, Moser J, Gygax L. Mood As Cumulative Expectation Mismatch: A Test of Theory Based on Data from Non-verbal Cognitive Bias Tests. Front Psychol 2017; 8:2197. [PMID: 29491844 PMCID: PMC5824615 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Affective states are known to influence behavior and cognitive processes. To assess mood (moderately long-term affective states), the cognitive judgment bias test was developed and has been widely used in various animal species. However, little is known about how mood changes, how mood can be experimentally manipulated, and how mood then feeds back into cognitive judgment. A recent theory argues that mood reflects the cumulative impact of differences between obtained outcomes and expectations. Here expectations refer to an established context. Situations in which an established context fails to match an outcome are then perceived as mismatches of expectation and outcome. We take advantage of the large number of studies published on non-verbal cognitive bias tests in recent years (95 studies with a total of 162 independent tests) to test whether cumulative mismatch could indeed have led to the observed mood changes. Based on a criteria list, we assessed whether mismatch had occurred with the experimental procedure used to induce mood (mood induction mismatch), or in the context of the non-verbal cognitive bias procedure (testing mismatch). For the mood induction mismatch, we scored the mismatch between the subjects’ potential expectations and the manipulations conducted for inducing mood whereas, for the testing mismatch, we scored mismatches that may have occurred during the actual testing. We then investigated whether these two types of mismatch can predict the actual outcome of the cognitive bias study. The present evaluation shows that mood induction mismatch cannot well predict the success of a cognitive bias test. On the other hand, testing mismatch can modulate or even inverse the expected outcome. We think, cognitive bias studies should more specifically aim at creating expectation mismatch while inducing mood states to test the cumulative mismatch theory more properly. Furthermore, testing mismatch should be avoided as much as possible because it can reverse the affective state of animals as measured in a cognitive judgment bias paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille M C Raoult
- Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO, Agroscope, Ettenhausen, Switzerland.,Animal Welfare Division, Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Julia Moser
- Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO, Agroscope, Ettenhausen, Switzerland
| | - Lorenz Gygax
- Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO, Agroscope, Ettenhausen, Switzerland
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10
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de Haas EN, Lee C, Rodenburg TB. Learning and Judgment Can Be Affected by Predisposed Fearfulness in Laying Hens. Front Vet Sci 2017; 4:113. [PMID: 28798918 PMCID: PMC5530324 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
High fearfulness could disrupt learning and likely affects judgment in animals, especially when it is part of an animals’ personality, i.e., trait anxiety. Here, we tested whether high fearfulness affects discrimination learning and judgment bias (JB) in laying hens. Based on the response to an open field at 5 weeks of age, birds were categorized as fearful (FC) by showing no walking or vocalizing or non-fearful (NFC) by showing walking and vocalizing. At adult age, birds (n = 24) were trained in a go–go task to discriminate two cues (white or black) with a small or large reward. Birds that reached training criteria were exposed to three unrewarded ambiguous cues (25, 50, and 75% black) to assess JB. Task acquisition took longer for FC birds than for NFC birds, due to a left side bias, and more sessions were needed to unlearn this side bias. Changes in trial setup increased response latencies for FC birds but not for NFC birds. A larger number of FC birds than NFC birds chose optimistically in the last ambiguous trial (25% black). FC birds had a longer latency to choose in the ambiguous trial (75% black) compared to NFC birds. Prior choice in ambiguous trials and a preceding large or small trial affected latencies and choices for both types of birds. Our study showed that fearfulness was associated with differences in discrimination learning ability and JB. It appeared that FC birds used a rigid response strategy during early learning phases by choosing a specific side repeatedly irrespective of success. FC birds were more affected by changes in the setup of the trials in comparison to NFC birds. We speculate that FC birds are more sensitive to changes in environmental cues and reward expectancy. These factors could explain how high fearfulness affects learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elske N de Haas
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands.,Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Caroline Lee
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - T Bas Rodenburg
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands.,Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
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11
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Carreras R, Arroyo L, Mainau E, Valent D, Bassols A, Dalmau A, Faucitano L, Manteca X, Velarde A. Can the way pigs are handled alter behavioural and physiological measures of affective state? Behav Processes 2017. [PMID: 28642165 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Research on human-animal relationship in animal production has been mainly focused on its effect on stress, productivity and meat quality. Only few studies have assessed its effects on the animals' affective state. In the present study, the influence of positive and negative handling (pH and NH, respectively) on affective state and fear as assessed by the cognitive bias test, the novel object test and the defence cascade test was studied in 56 pigs. Serum, saliva and hair were sampled during the study for the analysis of cortisol concentration. Results showed no differences between pH and NH pigs in the behavioural tests, which may be either due to the lack of previous handling effect on the test results, the lack of validity or the low sensitivity of these tests or a combination of them. Moreover, no differences were found in cortisol concentrations between handling groups. However, correlations between tests were found (p<0.05) suggesting that there are individual factors such as the fear level, the motivation or the coping style, that have a similar effect on the response to these tests. Moreover, pigs who were more fearful had higher (r=0.37; p=0.014) levels of serum cortisol at slaughter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricard Carreras
- IRTA, Animal Welfare Subprogram, Veïnat de Sies, s/n, 17121 Monells, Spain
| | - Laura Arroyo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Eva Mainau
- IRTA, Animal Welfare Subprogram, Veïnat de Sies, s/n, 17121 Monells, Spain; Department of Animal and Food Science, School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Daniel Valent
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Anna Bassols
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Antoni Dalmau
- IRTA, Animal Welfare Subprogram, Veïnat de Sies, s/n, 17121 Monells, Spain
| | - Luigi Faucitano
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, Sherbrooke J1 M 0C8, Canada
| | - Xavier Manteca
- Department of Animal and Food Science, School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Antonio Velarde
- IRTA, Animal Welfare Subprogram, Veïnat de Sies, s/n, 17121 Monells, Spain.
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12
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Roelofs S, Nordquist RE, van der Staay FJ. Female and male pigs’ performance in a spatial holeboard and judgment bias task. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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13
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Housing conditions do not alter cognitive bias but affect serum cortisol, qualitative behaviour assessment and wounds on the carcass in pigs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2016.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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14
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Roelofs S, Boleij H, Nordquist RE, van der Staay FJ. Making Decisions under Ambiguity: Judgment Bias Tasks for Assessing Emotional State in Animals. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:119. [PMID: 27375454 PMCID: PMC4899464 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Judgment bias tasks (JBTs) are considered as a family of promising tools in the assessment of emotional states of animals. JBTs provide a cognitive measure of optimism and/or pessimism by recording behavioral responses to ambiguous stimuli. For instance, a negative emotional state is expected to produce a negative or pessimistic judgment of an ambiguous stimulus, whereas a positive emotional state produces a positive or optimistic judgment of the same ambiguous stimulus. Measuring an animal's emotional state or mood is relevant in both animal welfare research and biomedical research. This is reflected in the increasing use of JBTs in both research areas. We discuss the different implementations of JBTs with animals, with a focus on their potential as an accurate measure of emotional state. JBTs have been successfully applied to a very broad range of species, using many different types of testing equipment and experimental protocols. However, further validation of this test is deemed necessary. For example, the often extensive training period required for successful judgment bias testing remains a possible factor confounding results. Also, the issue of ambiguous stimuli losing their ambiguity with repeated testing requires additional attention. Possible improvements are suggested to further develop the JBTs in both animal welfare and biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Roelofs
- Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Behavior and Welfare Group (Formerly Emotion and Cognition Group), Utrecht University Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Hetty Boleij
- Department of Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Laboratory Animal Science, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands
| | - Rebecca E Nordquist
- Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Behavior and Welfare Group (Formerly Emotion and Cognition Group), Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands
| | - Franz Josef van der Staay
- Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Behavior and Welfare Group (Formerly Emotion and Cognition Group), Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands
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