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Benz-Schwarzburg J, Wrage B. Caring animals and the ways we wrong them. BIOLOGY & PHILOSOPHY 2023; 38:25. [PMID: 37388763 PMCID: PMC10300179 DOI: 10.1007/s10539-023-09913-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Many nonhuman animals have the emotional capacities to form caring relationships that matter to them, and for their immediate welfare. Drawing from care ethics, we argue that these relationships also matter as objectively valuable states of affairs. They are part of what is good in this world. However, the value of care is precarious in human-animal interactions. Be it in farming, research, wildlife 'management', zoos, or pet-keeping, the prevention, disruption, manipulation, and instrumentalization of care in animals by humans is ubiquitous. We criticize a narrow conception of welfare that, in practice, tends to overlook non-experiential forms of harm that occur when we interfere with caring animals. Additionally, we point out wrongs against caring animals that are not just unaccounted for but denied by even an expansive welfare perspective: The instrumentalization of care and caring animals in systems of use can occur as a harmless wrong that an approach purely focused on welfare may, in fact, condone. We should therefore adopt an ethical perspective that goes beyond welfare in our dealings with caring animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Birte Wrage
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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2
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Jeon D, Kim S, Choi J, Yang AR, Lee SK, Chu K. Chronic social stress during early development is involved in antisocial maltreatment behavior in mice. ENCEPHALITIS 2022; 2:98-107. [PMID: 37469995 PMCID: PMC10295919 DOI: 10.47936/encephalitis.2022.00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Early-life stress can cause brain inflammation and affect social behavior in adulthood. In humans, maltreated (abused or neglected) children often exhibit antisocial behavior, including violent and sadistic behavior, in adulthood. However, it is unknown whether maltreatment behavior occurs in rodents. Here, we developed an assay system to evaluate conspecific maltreatment behavior in the mouse. Methods To assess maltreatment behavior, we devised a two-chamber apparatus separated by a transparent partition, in which one chamber was provided with a nose-poking hole that would trigger foot shocks onto the other. Lidocaine was used to inhibit neural activity in vivo. Brain oscillations were investigated by electroencephalograph. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for protein assay. The mouse model was sequentially subjected to maternal separation (MS), social defeat (SD), and social isolation (SI) in that order (MS/SD/SI model). Results Inactivation of the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex increased the level of nose-poking. Maltreatment behavior provoked changes in oxytocin, corticosterone, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. MS/SD/SI mice exhibited more sustained nose-poking behavior during the experiment, resulting in increased foot shocks to the mouse in the opposite chamber. Abnormal brain oscillations were observed in the MS/SD/SI mice. Conclusion The MS/SD/SI model and maltreatment-behavior assay may be useful not only to study the relationship between social stress in childhood and antisocial behavior in adulthood, but also for study of etiology, pathology, or treatment for brain disorders, such as psychopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sangwoo Kim
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jiye Choi
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ah Reum Yang
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang Kun Lee
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kon Chu
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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3
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Evans R, Lyons M, Brewer G, Bethell E. A domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) model of triarchic psychopathy factors: Development and initial validation of the CAT-Tri+ questionnaire. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2021.104161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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4
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Peng SX, Wang YY, Zhang M, Zang YY, Wu D, Pei J, Li Y, Dai J, Guo X, Luo X, Zhang N, Yang JJ, Zhang C, Gao X, Liu N, Shi YS. SNP rs10420324 in the AMPA receptor auxiliary subunit TARP γ-8 regulates the susceptibility to antisocial personality disorder. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11997. [PMID: 34099816 PMCID: PMC8184779 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91415-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In the brain, AMPA receptors mediate fast excitatory neurotransmission, the dysfunction of which leads to neuropsychiatric disorders. Synaptic function of AMPA receptors is tightly controlled by a protein group called transmembrane AMPAR regulatory proteins (TARPs). TARP γ-8 (also known as CACNG8) preferentially expresses in the hippocampus, cortex and subcortical regions that are critical for emotion generation indicating its association with psychiatric disorders. Here, we identified rs10420324 (T/G), a SNP located in the human CACNG8 gene, regulated reporter gene expression in vitro and TARP γ-8 expression in the human brain. A guanine at the locus (rs10420324G) suppressed transcription likely through modulation of a local G-quadruplex DNA structure. Consistent with these observations, the frequency of rs10420324G was higher in patients with anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) than in controls, indicating that rs10420324G in CACNG8 is more voluntary for ASPD. We then characterized the behavior of TARP γ-8 knockout and heterozygous mice and found that consistent with ASPD patients who often exhibit impulsivity, aggression, risk taking, irresponsibility and callousness, a decreased γ-8 expression in mice displayed similar behaviors. Furthermore, we found that a decrease in TARP γ-8 expression impaired synaptic AMPAR functions in layer 2-3 pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that inhibition leads to aggression, thus explaining, at least partially, the neuronal basis for the behavioral abnormality. Taken together, our study indicates that TARP γ-8 expression level is associated with ASPD, and that the TARP γ-8 knockout mouse is a valuable animal model for studying this psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Xiao Peng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Model Animal Research Center, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China
| | - Yue-Ying Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Model Animal Research Center, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China
| | - Min Zhang
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Yan-Yu Zang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Model Animal Research Center, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China
| | - Dan Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China
| | - Jingwen Pei
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Model Animal Research Center, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China
| | - Yansong Li
- Reward, Competition and Social Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jiapei Dai
- Chinese Brain Bank Center, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xiaoyun Guo
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xingguang Luo
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Ning Zhang
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210029, China
- Department of Medical Psychology, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Jian-Jun Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Xiang Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Model Animal Research Center, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Medical Psychology, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, China.
| | - Yun Stone Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Model Animal Research Center, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China.
- Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China.
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210032, China.
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5
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Schönfeld LM, Schäble S, Zech MP, Kalenscher T. 5-HT 1A receptor agonism in the basolateral amygdala increases mutual-reward choices in rats. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16622. [PMID: 33024202 PMCID: PMC7538979 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73829-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rats show mutual-reward preferences, i.e., they prefer options that result in a reward for both themselves and a conspecific partner to options that result in a reward for themselves, but not for the partner. In a previous study, we have shown that lesions of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) reduced choices for mutual rewards. Here, we aimed to explore the role of 5-HT1A receptors within the BLA in mutual-reward choices. Rats received daily injections of either 50 or 25 ng of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT or a vehicle solution into the BLA and mutual-reward choices were measured in a rodent prosocial choice task. Compared to vehicle injections, 8-OH-DPAT significantly increased mutual-reward choices when a conspecific was present. By contrast, mutual-reward choices were significantly reduced by 8-OH-DPAT injections in the presence of a toy rat. The effect of 8-OH-DPAT injections was statistically significant during the expression, but not during learning of mutual-reward behavior, although an influence of 8-OH-DPAT injections on learning could not be excluded. There were no differences between 8-OH-DPAT-treated and vehicle-treated rats in general reward learning, behavioral flexibility, locomotion or anxiety. In this study, we have shown that repeated injections of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT have the potential to increase mutual-reward choices in a social setting without affecting other behavioral parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa-Maria Schönfeld
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Sandra Schäble
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Maurice-Philipp Zech
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tobias Kalenscher
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
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6
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Helmy M, Zhang J, Wang H. Neurobiology and Neural Circuits of Aggression. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1284:9-22. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-7086-5_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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7
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de Abreu MS, C V V Giacomini A, Genario R, Fontana BD, Parker MO, Marcon L, Scolari N, Bueno B, Demin KA, Galstyan D, Kolesnikova TO, Amstislavskaya TG, Zabegalov KN, Strekalova T, Kalueff AV. Zebrafish models of impulsivity and impulse control disorders. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 52:4233-4248. [PMID: 32619029 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are characterized by generalized difficulty controlling emotions and behaviors. ICDs are a broad group of the central nervous system (CNS) disorders including conduct disorder, intermittent explosive, oppositional-defiant disorder, antisocial personality disorder, kleptomania, pyromania and other illnesses. Although they all share a common feature (aberrant impulsivity), their pathobiology is complex and poorly understood. There are also currently no ICD-specific therapies to treat these illnesses. Animal models are a valuable tool for studying ICD pathobiology and potential therapies. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a useful model organism to study CNS disorders due to high genetic and physiological homology to mammals, and sensitivity to various pharmacological and genetic manipulations. Here, we summarize experimental models of impulsivity and ICD in zebrafish and highlight their growing translational significance. We also emphasize the need for further development of zebrafish ICD models to improve our understanding of their pathogenesis and to search for novel therapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murilo S de Abreu
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil.,The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, LA, USA
| | - Ana C V V Giacomini
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Environmental Sciences, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil
| | - Rafael Genario
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil
| | - Barbara D Fontana
- Brain and Behaviour Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK
| | - Matthew O Parker
- Brain and Behaviour Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK
| | - Leticia Marcon
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil
| | - Naiara Scolari
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil
| | - Barbara Bueno
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil
| | - Konstantin A Demin
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia.,Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - David Galstyan
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Tatyana O Kolesnikova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | | | | | - Tatyana Strekalova
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, University of Würzburg, Moscow, Russia
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Laboratory of Petrochemistry, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
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8
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Hernandez-Lallement J, Attah AT, Soyman E, Pinhal CM, Gazzola V, Keysers C. Harm to Others Acts as a Negative Reinforcer in Rats. Curr Biol 2020; 30:949-961.e7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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9
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Schönfeld LM, Zech MP, Schäble S, Wöhr M, Kalenscher T. Lesions of the rat basolateral amygdala reduce the behavioral response to ultrasonic vocalizations. Behav Brain Res 2019; 378:112274. [PMID: 31589896 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Rats emit vocalizations in the ultrasonic range (ultrasonic vocalizations; USVs), of which 50-kHz USVs could communicate positive affective states and induce approach behavior in conspecifics, whereas 22-kHz USVs might signal negative affective states and potential threats. Listening to 50-kHz USVs can be rewarding, but it is unknown which brain mechanisms are responsible for the assignment of reinforcing value to 50-kHz USVs . The behavioral responses induced by listening to 22-kHz USVs are heterogeneous and need further characterization. The amygdala is a region relevant for social perception, behavior and reward. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the basolateral amygdala (BLA) plays a causal role in motivating behavioral responses to 50-kHz and 22-kHz USVs. Rats with lesions of the BLA or sham lesions were repeatedly exposed to playback of either 50-kHz or 22-kHz USVs in a radial maze. Compared to sham rats, BLA-lesioned rats spent less time in the arms close to the USV speaker during playback of both 50-kHz or 22-kHz USVs. This difference in behavior was not due to impaired motor or general auditory abilities, indicating that BLA lesions selectively reduced the responsiveness to stimuli with social significance. This finding provides further support for the hypothesis that the BLA plays an important role in motivating approach behavior to social reinforcers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa-Maria Schönfeld
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Maurice-Philipp Zech
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sandra Schäble
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Markus Wöhr
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Kalenscher
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
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10
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Oberliessen L, Kalenscher T. Social and Non-social Mechanisms of Inequity Aversion in Non-human Animals. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:133. [PMID: 31293399 PMCID: PMC6598742 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Research over the last decades has shown that humans and other animals reveal behavioral and emotional responses to unequal reward distributions between themselves and other conspecifics. However, cross-species findings about the mechanisms underlying such inequity aversion are heterogeneous, and there is an ongoing discussion if inequity aversion represents a truly social phenomenon or if it is driven by non-social aspects of the task. There is not even general consensus whether inequity aversion exists in non-human animals at all. In this review article, we discuss variables that were found to affect inequity averse behavior in animals and examine mechanistic and evolutionary theories of inequity aversion. We review a range of moderator variables and focus especially on the comparison of social vs. non-social explanations of inequity aversion. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of considering the experimental design when interpreting behavior in inequity aversion tasks: the tasks used to probe inequity aversion are often based on impunity-game-like designs in which animals are faced with unfair reward distributions, and they can choose to accept the unfair offer, or reject it, leaving them with no reward. We compare inequity-averse behavior in such impunity-game-like designs with behavior in less common choice-based designs in which animals actively choose between fair and unfair rewards distributions. This review concludes with a discussion of the different mechanistic explanations of inequity aversion, especially in light of the particular features of the different task designs, and we give suggestions on experimental requirements to understand the “true nature” of inequity aversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Oberliessen
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tobias Kalenscher
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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11
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Truedsson E, Fawcett C, Wesevich V, Gredebäck G, Wåhlstedt C. The Role of Callous-Unemotional Traits on Adolescent Positive and Negative Emotional Reactivity: A Longitudinal Community-Based Study. Front Psychol 2019; 10:573. [PMID: 30930825 PMCID: PMC6428776 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Callous-unemotional (CU) traits are associated with lower emotional reactivity in adolescents. However, since previous studies have focused mainly on reactivity to negative stimuli, it is unclear whether reactivity to positive stimuli is also affected. Further, few studies have addressed the link between CU traits and emotional reactivity in longitudinal community samples, which is important for determining its generalizability and developmental course. In the current study, pupil dilation and self-ratings of arousal and valence were assessed in 100 adolescents (15-17 years) from a community sample, while viewing images with negative and positive valence from the International Affective Pictures System (IAPS). Behavioral traits (CU) were assessed concurrently, as well as at ages 12-15, and 8-9 (subsample, n = 68, low levels of prosocial behavior were used as a proxy for CU traits). The results demonstrate that CU traits assessed at ages 12-15 and 8-9 predicted less pupil dilation to both positive and negative images at ages 15-17. Further, CU traits at ages 12-15 and concurrently were associated with less negative valence ratings for negative images and concurrently to less positive valence ratings for positive images. The current findings demonstrate that CU traits are related to lower emotional reactivity to both negative and positive stimuli in adolescents from a community sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Truedsson
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Victoria Wesevich
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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12
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Lichtenberg NT, Lee B, Kashtelyan V, Chappa BS, Girma HT, Green EA, Kantor S, Lagowala DA, Myers MA, Potemri D, Pecukonis MG, Tesfay RT, Walters MS, Zhao AC, Blair RJR, Cheer JF, Roesch MR. Rat behavior and dopamine release are modulated by conspecific distress. eLife 2018; 7:e38090. [PMID: 30484770 PMCID: PMC6261252 DOI: 10.7554/elife.38090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rats exhibit 'empathy' making them a model to understand the neural underpinnings of such behavior. We show data consistent with these findings, but also that behavior and dopamine (DA) release reflects subjective rather than objective evaluation of appetitive and aversive events that occur to another. We recorded DA release in two paradigms: one that involved cues predictive of unavoidable shock to the conspecific and another that allowed the rat to refrain from reward when there were harmful consequences to the conspecific. Behavior and DA reflected pro-social interactions in that DA suppression was reduced during cues that predicted shock in the presence of the conspecific and that DA release observed on self-avoidance trials was present when the conspecific was spared. However, DA also increased when the conspecific was shocked instead of the recording rat and DA release during conspecific avoidance trials was lower than when the rat avoided shock for itself.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian Lee
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
| | - Vadim Kashtelyan
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
| | | | - Henok T Girma
- Gemstone Honors ProgramUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
| | - Elizabeth A Green
- Gemstone Honors ProgramUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
| | - Shir Kantor
- Gemstone Honors ProgramUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
| | - Dave A Lagowala
- Gemstone Honors ProgramUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
| | - Matthew A Myers
- Gemstone Honors ProgramUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
| | - Danielle Potemri
- Gemstone Honors ProgramUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
| | | | - Robel T Tesfay
- Gemstone Honors ProgramUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
| | - Michael S Walters
- Gemstone Honors ProgramUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
| | - Adam C Zhao
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
| | - R James R Blair
- Center for Neurobehavioral ResearchBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownUnited States
| | - Joseph F Cheer
- Department of Anatomy and NeurobiologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Program in NeuroscienceUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Matthew R Roesch
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
- Gemstone Honors ProgramUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
- Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive ScienceUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkUnited States
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13
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Monsó S, Benz-Schwarzburg J, Bremhorst A. Animal Morality: What It Means and Why It Matters. THE JOURNAL OF ETHICS 2018; 22:283-310. [PMID: 30930677 PMCID: PMC6404642 DOI: 10.1007/s10892-018-9275-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
It has been argued that some animals are moral subjects, that is, beings who are capable of behaving on the basis of moral motivations (Rowlands 2011, 2012, 2017). In this paper, we do not challenge this claim. Instead, we presuppose its plausibility in order to explore what ethical consequences follow from it. Using the capabilities approach (Nussbaum 2004, 2007), we argue that beings who are moral subjects are entitled to enjoy positive opportunities for the flourishing of their moral capabilities, and that the thwarting of these capabilities entails a harm that cannot be fully explained in terms of hedonistic welfare. We explore the implications of this idea for the assessment of current practices involving animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Monsó
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith Benz-Schwarzburg
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Annika Bremhorst
- Division of Animal Welfare, VPHI, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7TS UK
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