scholarly journals A break from the pups: The effects of loft access on the welfare of lactating laboratory rats

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253020
Author(s):  
Anna S. Ratuski ◽  
Daniel M. Weary
Keyword(s):  
Affective State ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Plus Maze ◽  
Positive Affective State ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Measured Time ◽  
Anticipatory Behavior ◽  
Time Away ◽  
Negative Affective State

Rats (Rattus norvegicus) bred for research are typically confined with their litters until weaning, but will spend time away from pups when given the opportunity. We aimed to assess how dam welfare is affected by the ability to escape from their pups. Rat dams (n = 16) were housed in cages either with or without an elevated loft. We measured time dams spent in lofts, time spent nursing, and affective states using elevated plus maze and anticipatory behavior testing. We predicted that 1) dams housed with lofts would use them increasingly as pups aged, 2) dams without a loft would spend more time passively nursing (i.e. initiated by pups rather than the dam) and more total time nursing as pups aged, and 3) dams housed with lofts would show evidence of a more positive affective state. Dams housed with lofts spent more time in the loft with increasing pup age; dams spent on average (mean ± SE) 27 ± 5% of their time in the loft when pups were 1 wk old, increasing to 52 ± 5% of their time at 3 wks. When pups were 3 wks old, dams with lofts spent less time passively nursing (10 ± 2% of total time, compared to 27 ± 4% for dams without a loft) and less time nursing overall (36 ± 4% of time versus 59 ± 2% for dams without a loft). Rats without loft access showed increased anticipatory behavior potentially indicative of negative affective state (24.5±1.8 behaviors per minute in wk 3 compared to 18.8±1.0 in wk 1). These findings indicate that rat dams in laboratories choose to spend time away from their pups when provided the opportunity, particularly later in lactation; an inability to do so is associated with increased passive nursing and negative affect.

scholarly journals The Effect of Human–Horse Interactions on Equine Behaviour, Physiology, and Welfare: A Scoping Review

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2782
Author(s):  
Katherine Jennifer Kelly ◽  
Laurie Anne McDuffee ◽  
Kimberly Mears
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Human Interactions ◽  
Positive Affective State ◽  
Permanent Effect ◽  
Equine Welfare ◽  
Equine Industry ◽  
Negative Affective State

Human–horse interactions (HHIs) are diverse and prominent in the equine industry. Stakeholders have an invested interest in making sure that HHIs are humane. Assessment of equine welfare goes beyond physical health and includes assessment of the emotional state of the animal. HHIs can have a permanent effect on human–horse relationships, thereby influencing welfare. Therefore, an understanding of the horse’s affective state during HHIs is necessary. A scoping review was conducted to: (1) map current practices related to the measurement of HHIs; (2) explore the known effects of HHIs on horse behaviour and physiology; and (3) clarify the connection between HHIs and equine welfare. A total of 45 articles were included in this review. Studies that used both physiological and behavioural measures of equine response to human interactions accounted for 42% of the included studies. A further 31% exclusively used physiological measures and 27% used behavioural observation. Current evidence of equine welfare during HHIs is minimal and largely based on the absence of a negative affective state during imposed interactions. Broadening the scope of methods to evaluate a positive affective state and standardization of methodology to assess these states would improve the overall understanding of the horse’s welfare during HHIs.

scholarly journals The use of ball pits and playpens in laboratory Lister Hooded male rats induces ultrasonic vocalisations indicating a more positive affective state and can reduce the welfare impacts of aversive procedures

2022 ◽  
pp. 002367722110659
Author(s):  
Justyna K Hinchcliffe ◽  
Megan G Jackson ◽  
Emma SJ Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Emotional State ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Environmental Complexity ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Rigorous Research ◽  
Positive Affective State

The advancement and quality of science rely on research that is robust and unbiased in its experimental design, execution, analysis, and reproducibility. In preclinical research, a better understanding of animal emotions and refinement of their husbandry, housing, and handling are important goals in providing good animal welfare in a laboratory setting which underpins rigorous research quality. Induction of positive emotional state in animals is a key component of their well-being, and one approach is to increase their environmental complexity using, for example, ball pits or playpens in rats. In this study, we recorded 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs) during animals’ exposure to the ball pit and playpen. We have previously shown that 50 kHz USVs provide a graded and quantifiable measure of an animal’s emotional state, and here find that access to the ball pit and playpen increases 50 kHz USVs, indicative of a more positive affective state. Using our affective bias test (ABT) we next quantified the animals’ emotional response to an aversive intervention and whether this could be attenuated by access to a playpen. The playpen exposure completely mitigated the negative affective state induced by an anxiogenic drug when compared with animals who experienced the drug in the home cage. Together, these findings suggest ball pits and playpens provide a simple and effective method to improve the welfare of laboratory rats and reduce the cumulative suffering they experience from their housing conditions and minor, aversive procedures.

scholarly journals Are Behavioral Tests Capable of Measuring Positive Affective States in Growing Pigs?

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Krugmann ◽  
Farina Warnken ◽  
Joachim Krieter ◽  
Irena Czycholl
Keyword(s):  
Affective State ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Behavioral Tests ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Novel Object ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Positive Affective State ◽  
Fattening Pigs

This study examined whether the human approach test (HAT) or novel object test (NOT), which are considered as suitable tests for assessing the level of fear or anxiety in animals, are suitable to detect a positive affective state in 297 fattening pigs from three different farms. The investigated farms consisted of a barren (farm 1, n = 160) and an enriched (farm 2, n = 106; farm 3, n = 31) husbandry. Each pig was subjected three times to the HAT and NOT during fattening (at the start, middle, and end of fattening). The pigs housed in the barren environment showed quicker approach latencies than the enriched-housed pigs (HAT: farm 1: 7.4 ± 1.1 s vs. farm 2: 57.1 ± 1.1 s, respectively, farm 3: 58.3 ± 1.3 s (end of fattening); NOT: farm 1: 4.5 ± 1.1 s vs. farm 2: 23.0 ± 1.1 s, respectively, farm 3: 9.0 ± 1.2 s (end of fattening)). The same pattern of behavior was observed for the duration of contacts in the HAT but not in the NOT (HAT: farm 1: 83.8 ± 1.1 s vs. farm 2: 6.3 ± 1.1 s, respectively, farm 3: 7.6 ± 1.3 s (end of fattening)). However, due to controversially discussed literature, it is difficult to conclude whether the described differences in the pigs’ behavior between the two housing systems might indicate useful indicators to detect their affective state.

scholarly journals Pair-bonding influences affective state in a monogamous fish species

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1904) ◽  
pp. 20190760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloé Laubu ◽  
Philippe Louâpre ◽  
François-Xavier Dechaume-Moncharmont
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Pair Bonding ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Monogamous Species ◽  
Judgement Bias ◽  
Negative Affective State ◽  
Human Specific

In humans, affective states are a key component in pair-bonding, particularly in the early stage of a relationship. Pairing with a high-quality partner elicits positive affective states which, in turn, validate and reinforce the mate choice. Affective states thus strongly affect pair stability and future reproductive success. We propose generalizing the link between affective states and pair-bonding to encompass other monogamous species exhibiting biparental care, chiefly where the reproductive success of the pair critically depends on the coordination between partners. The convict cichlid Amatitlania siquia is a monogamous fish species that forms long-lasting pairs with strong cooperation between parents for parental care. In this species, we showed that females paired with their non-preferred male had lower reproductive success than those paired with their preferred male. We then transposed the judgement bias paradigm, previously used in other animal species, to assess objectively affective states in fishes. Females that were assigned their non-preferred partner exhibited pessimistic bias, which indicates a negative affective state. By contrast, females that were assigned their preferred partner did not exhibit changes in their affective state. Our results highlight that the influence of pair-bonding on affective states is not human-specific and can also be observed in non-human species.

scholarly journals Filing for Moral Bankruptcy: An Examination of How Affect and Empathy Predict Moral Competence

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 16-26
Author(s):  
Nicholas Surdel ◽  
Marina A. Klimenko
Keyword(s):  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Moral Dilemma ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Moral Competence ◽  
Moral Principles ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Mercy Killing ◽  
Negative Affective State

What does being moral mean? On one hand people may justify mercy killing as sparing omeone’s suffering, but on the other hand they are still, in-fact, taking another’s life. According to Lind’s theory of moral competence (2008), it is based on consistent utilization of moral principles. Although common sense tells us that people’s affective states and levels of empathy may explain the differences, there is little direct evidence. The purpose of this study was to fill this gap by examining the relative contribution of empathy and affective state to moral competence. Results of the study revealed that although perspective taking and negative affective state were both significant predictors of moral competence, perspective taking was a stronger contributor. This suggests that the next time you deliberate over a moral dilemma (e.g., euthanasia), you should try understanding another person’s perspective rather than feeling empathy to make the best moral judgment.

Exploring the motivation of affect management in fostering social media engagement and related insights for branding

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-83
Author(s):  
Fathima Zahara Saleem ◽  
Oriol Iglesias
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Affective State ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Social Media Engagement ◽  
Positive Affective State ◽  
Personal Trauma ◽  
Negative Affective State

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an affect-based perspective to explain levels of social media engagement. Design/methodology/approach This study uses face-to-face long interviews and online observation of the Facebook profiles of respondents over an eight-month period. Findings Social media engagement varies depending on a user’s current and desired affective state. When individuals are in a low to moderately aroused negative affective state (such as feeling bored or upset), individuals tend to spend time passively consuming content: the lowest level of engagement. In a low to moderately aroused positive mood state (such as happiness), users both passively consume and actively participate with relevant content by liking and commenting on existing content. When users are in a highly aroused positive affective state, the propensity to create original content is greater, reflecting the highest level of engagement. When users are in a highly aroused negative affective state (such as being angry at a brand), users are motivated to vent on social media to manage the mood. Conversely, when users are in a highly aroused negative affective state related to personal trauma, the avoidance of engagement on social media is evident. Practical implications Brands can increase the likelihood of consumers creating positive consumer–brand stories offline and online by priming consumer affect. Originality/value This study explores how a desired affective state motivates varying levels of user engagement with different types of content on social media.

scholarly journals Evaluation of miRNA as Biomarkers of Emotional Valence in Pigs

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2054
Author(s):  
Laura Marsh ◽  
Mark R. Hutchinson ◽  
Clive McLaughlan ◽  
Stefan T. Musolino ◽  
Michelle L. Hebart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Emotional Valence ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Production Environment ◽  
Large White ◽  
Judgment Bias ◽  
Positive Affective State ◽  
The Brain

The ability to assess the welfare of animals is dependent on our ability to accurately determine their emotional (affective) state, with particular emphasis being placed on the identification of positive emotions. The challenge remains that current physiological and behavioral indices are either unable to distinguish between positive and negative emotional states, or they are simply not suitable for a production environment. Therefore, the development of novel measures of animal emotion is a necessity. Here we investigated the efficacy of microRNA (miRNA) in the brain and blood as biomarkers of emotional state in the pig. Female Large White × Landrace pigs (n = 24) were selected at weaning and trained to perform a judgment bias test (JBT), before being exposed for 5 weeks to either enriched (n = 12) or barren housing (n = 12) conditions. Pigs were tested on the JBT once prior to treatment, and immediately following treatment. MiRNA and neurotransmitters were analyzed in blood and brain tissue after euthanasia. Treatment had no effect on the outcomes of the JBT. There was also no effect of treatment on miRNA expression in blood or the brain (FDR p > 0.05). However, pigs exposed to enriched housing had elevated dopamine within the striatum compared to pigs in barren housing (p = 0.02). The results imply that either (a) miRNAs are not likely to be valid biomarkers of a positive affective state, at least under the type of conditions employed in this study, or (b) that the study design used to modify affective state was not able to create differential affective states, and therefore establish the validity of miRNA as biomarkers.

scholarly journals Assessing and Enhancing the Welfare of Animals with Equivocal and Reliable Cues

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 680
Author(s):  
Jason V. Watters ◽  
Bethany L. Krebs
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Reward Sensitivity ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Judgement Bias ◽  
Anticipatory Behavior ◽  
Human Care ◽  
Decision Making Behavior

The actions of human caretakers strongly influence animals living under human care. Here, we consider how intentional and unintentional signals provided by caretakers can inform our assessment of animals’ well-being as well as help to support it. Our aim is to assist in further developing techniques to learn animals’ affective state from their behavior and to provide simple suggestions for how animal caretakers’ behavior can support animal welfare. We suggest that anticipatory behavior towards expected rewards is related to decision-making behavior as viewed through the cognitive bias lens. By considering the predictions of the theories associated with anticipatory behavior and cognitive bias, we propose to use specific cues to probe the cumulative affective state of animals. Additionally, our commentary draws on the logic of reward sensitivity and judgement bias theories to develop a framework that suggests how reliable and equivocal signals may influence animals’ affective states. Application of this framework may be useful in supporting the welfare of animals in human care.

Effect of Midazolam on Propofol-induced Positive Affective State Assessed by Place Conditioning in Rats 

1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 935-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laure Pain ◽  
Philippe Oberling ◽  
Guy Sandner ◽  
Georges Di Scala
Keyword(s):  
Affective State ◽  
Place Preference ◽  
The Other ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Place Conditioning ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Positive Affective State ◽  
Subsequent Choice ◽  
Experimental Cage ◽  
Recovery From Anesthesia

Background The effect of either midazolam or the combination of midazolam and propofol on the affective state was assessed in rats at subanesthetic doses and at recovery from anesthesia. Methods The putative drug(s)-induced affective states were repeatedly paired with one of two distinguishable compartments of an experimental cage, whereas the vehicle(s)-induced effect was repeatedly paired with the other compartment. During a subsequent choice test for one compartment over the other, the rats' preference for the drug(s)-paired compartment over the vehicle(s)-paired compartment is indicative of a pleasant state induced by the drug(s). In experiment 1, rats were conditioned with different doses of midazolam either at subanesthetic states or at recovery from anesthesia. In experiment 2, groups of rats were conditioned with different combinations of midazolam and propofol either at subanesthetic states or at recovery from anesthesia induced jointly by midazolam (10 mg/kg) and propofol (60 mg/kg). Experiment 3 was conducted in the same way as experiment 2, except that midazolam was paired with both compartments. In addition, these groups were tested not only in an undrugged state but also in a drugged (with midazolam) state. Results In experiment 1, rats exhibited a place preference for the environment previously associated with midazolam, at subanesthetic and anesthetic doses. Experiment 2 showed that a propofol-induced place preference was found to be dose-dependently suppressed by midazolam. Experiment 3 replicated the findings of experiment 2 and extended them to the mechanism by which midazolam blocked a propofol-induced place preference. Conclusions Midazolam administered before propofol blocked the expression of a propofol-induced pleasant state.

Facing Our Feelings

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise M. Stevens ◽  
Francesca R. Dillman Carpentier
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Media Content ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Entertainment Media ◽  
Mood Management ◽  
Positive Affective State ◽  
Media Choices ◽  
Management Behaviors

According to mood management theory, individuals are hedonically motivated to select media content that facilitates a positive mood state, which at its core, suggests a desire to escape from—to avoid—affective states that are not positive. In efforts to explain when individuals might make non-hedonic media choices, two studies examined individuals’ coping tendencies and current affect, among other measures, before making a media content choice. Results showed that mood management was most predictive for people who were naturally inclined to cope with stressors using avoidance tactics. Those who were less inclined to engage in avoidance coping strategies did not appear compelled to escape from, that is, improve, their low positive affective state with “happy” media. Findings are discussed in terms of situating mood management behaviors within the larger context of coping strategies. Implications of this research include the furtherance of entertainment theory and technology innovation with regard to tailoring one’s entertainment media diet.

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