Rat

Assessment of housing density, space allocation and social hierarchy of laboratory rats on behavioural measures of welfare

Minimum space allowances for laboratory rats are legislated based on weight and stocking rates, with the understanding that increased housing density encourages crowding stress. However, there is little evidence for these recommendations, especially when considering positive welfare outcomes. This study...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Barker, T. H., George, R. P., Howarth, G. S. et al. 2017. Assessment of housing density, space allocation and social hierarchy of laboratory rats on behavioural measures of welfare. PLOS ONE 12(9), e0185135.

Studies of the thyroid apparatus. I. The stability of the nervous system as a factor in the resistance of the albino rat to the loss of the parathyroid secretion.

The relative mortality subsequent to thyroparathyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy of rats was much lower (13%) in animals who had been handled compared with animals who had not been handled (79%).

Year Published: 1921Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hammett, F. S. 1921. Studies of the thyroid apparatus. I. The stability of the nervous system as a factor in the resistance of the albino rat to the loss of the parathyroid secretion. American Journal of Physiology 56, 196-204.

Brief exposure to novel or enriched environments reduces sucrose cue-reactivity and consumption in rats after 1 or 30 days of forced abstinence from self-administration

Environmental enrichment (EE) reduces drug and sucrose cue-reactivity in rats. In a previous study we reported that 1 month of EE (large cage, toys, and social cohorts) significantly reduced sucrose cue-reactivity. In the present study, we examined whether overnight (22...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Grimm, J. W., Weber, R., Barnes, J. et al. 2013. Brief exposure to novel or enriched environments reduces sucrose cue-reactivity and consumption in rats after 1 or 30 days of forced abstinence from self-administration. PLOS ONE 8(1), e54164.

Differences in anticipatory behaviour between rats (Rattus norvegicus) housed in standard versus semi-naturalistic laboratory environments

Laboratory rats are usually kept in relatively small cages, but research has shown that they prefer larger and more complex environments. The physiological, neurological and health effects of standard laboratory housing are well established, but fewer studies have addressed the...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Makowska, I. J., Weary, D. M. 2016. Differences in anticipatory behaviour between rats (Rattus norvegicus) housed in standard versus semi-naturalistic laboratory environments. PLOS ONE 11(1), e0147595.

Diffusion modelling reveals the decision making processes underlying negative judgement bias in rats

Human decision making is modified by emotional state. Rodents exhibit similar biases during interpretation of ambiguous cues that can be altered by affective state manipulations. In this study, the impact of negative affective state on judgement bias in rats was...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hales, C. A., Robinson, E. S. J., Houghton, C. J. 2016. Diffusion modelling reveals the decision making processes underlying negative judgement bias in rats. PLOS ONE 11(3), e0152592.

Sound-induced seizures in rats fed an aminoacid deficient diet

Year Published: 1951Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bevan, W. Jr., Hard, J. S., Seal, U. S. 1951. Sound-induced seizures in rats fed an aminoacid deficient diet. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 44, 327-332.

Nutritional deficiency as a factor in the abnormal behavior of experimental animals

earliest reference to the term abnormal behavior.

Year Published: 1941Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: King, C. G., Karn, H. W., Patton, R. A. 1941. Nutritional deficiency as a factor in the abnormal behavior of experimental animals. Science 94, 186.

Emotional behavior in the rat

Year Published: 1936Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hall, C. S. 1936. Emotional behavior in the rat. II. The relationship between emotionality and ambulatory activity. Journal of Comparative Psychology 22, 345-352.

Emotional behavior in the rat: I

Proposes that measuring aspect of rat behavior in a contained arena indicates the emotional reactivity of the subjects. Specifically, both the number of fecal boli deposited and the activity patterns correlates with the levels of fear and emotional reactivity. Large...

Year Published: 1934Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hall, C. S. 1934. Emotional behavior in the rat: I. Defecation and urination as measures of individual differences in emotionality. Journal of Comparative Psychology 18, 385-403.

A study of the rat’s behavior in a field: A contribution to method in comparative psychology

THE OPEN-FIELD (OF) TEST, originally developed by Hall (Hall & Ballachey, 1932), is one of the most widely used methods in the study of emotionality in rodents. The test is conducted in an enclosed open area in which the animal...

Year Published: 1932Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hall, C. S., Ballachey, E. L. 1932. A study of the rat's behavior in a field: A contribution to method in comparative psychology. University of California Publications in Psychology 6, 1-12.