Publications

Are there facial indicators of positive emotions in birds? A first exploration in Japanese quail

The positive aspect of emotions, like pleasure, remains overlooked in birds. Our aim was to contribute to the exploration of facial indicators of positive emotions. To observe contrasting emotional expressions, we used two lines of Japanese quail divergently selected on...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Fowl

Citation: Bertin, A., Cornilleau, F., Lemarchand, J. et al. 2018. Are there facial indicators of positive emotions in birds? A first exploration in Japanese quail. Behavioural Processes 157, 470-473.

Systematic assessment of food item preference and reinforcer effectiveness: Enhancements in training laboratory-housed rhesus macaques

The use of systematic preference assessments can enhance positive reinforcement training with captive animals. We found that the multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) technique identified food preferences in laboratory housed rhesus macaques, with raisins and grapes being ranked higher on...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Martin, A. L., Franklin, A. N., Perlman, J. E. et al. 2018. Systematic assessment of food item preference and reinforcer effectiveness: Enhancements in training laboratory-housed rhesus macaques. Behavioural Processes 157, 445-452.

A protocol of human animal interaction to habituate young sheep and goats for behavioural studies

Animal habituation is key to obtain reliable data on behavioural studies but detailed procedures to achieve it are scarce. This study designed a set of actions to habituate sheep and goats to human observers. Pelibuey sheep (n = 15) and Criollo goats...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Animal Training, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Goat, Sheep

Citation: González-Pech, P. G., Marín-Tun, C. G., Valladares-González, D.A. et al. 2018. A protocol of human animal interaction to habituate young sheep and goats for behavioural studies. Behavioural Processes 157, 632-637.

Solitary, observer, parallel, and social object play in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Many comparative studies have focused on the emergence of solitary and social play in early development, however, few consider observer and parallel forms of play. In this study, we analyzed approximately 21 h of video recordings and revealed a significant difference...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Cappiello, B. M., Hill, H. M., Bolton, T. T. 2018. Solitary, observer, parallel, and social object play in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Behavioural Processes 157, 453-458.

Personality in the longsnout seahorse, Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg, 1933: Are males shyer than females?

Individual responses, particularly based on personality, can have important consequences for individual fitness, based upon success in exploring new habitats, feeding on novel foods, and aggressiveness in competitive interactions. We conducted laboratory experiments to analyze individual responses to different artificial...

Year Published: 2018Topics: PersonalityAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Freret-Meurer, N. V., Alves, M. A. S. 2018. Personality in the longsnout seahorse, Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg, 1933: Are males shyer than females? Behavioural Processes 157, 106-110.

The effects of environmental enrichment and social isolation and their reversion on anxiety and fear conditioning

Animal models of fear and anxiety provide important insight into anxiety-related symptoms in humans. Environmental physical conditions and social contact influence behavior and brain plasticity particularly at early developmental stages and have long lasting effects reaching even adulthood. The potential...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Mora-Gallegos, A., Fornaguera, J. 2019. The effects of environmental enrichment and social isolation and their reversion on anxiety and fear conditioning. Behavioural Processes 158, 59-69.

Positive and negative emotions in dairy cows: Can ear postures be used as a measure?

Applying objective measures to assess the emotional states of animals is an important area of research and essential for improving animal welfare. In this study, we have built upon previous research to test whether ear postures can be used as...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Lambert, H., Carder, G. 2019. Positive and negative emotions in dairy cows: Can ear postures be used as a measure? Behavioural Processes 158, 172-180.

Song practice as a rewarding form of play in songbirds

In adult songbirds, the primary functions of song are mate attraction and territory defense; yet, many songbirds sing at high rates as juveniles and outside these primary contexts as adults. Singing outside primary contexts is critical for song learning and...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Other Bird

Citation: Riters, L. V., Spool, J. A., Merullo, D. P. et al. 2019. Song practice as a rewarding form of play in songbirds. Behavioural Processes 163, 91-98.

The impact of changeability of enriched environment on exploration in rats

Although the positive effect of environmental enrichment on animals' cognitive capacities is well-known, it remains unclear what role changeability plays in this context. Our study aims to analyse the impact of environmental changeability on the level of exploration and the...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Modlinska, K., Chrzanowska, A., Pisula, W. 2019. The impact of changeability of enriched environment on exploration in rats. Behavioural Processes 164, 78-85.

Return to home cage’ as a reward for maze learning in young and old genetically heterogeneous mice

Recent studies have shown that 'return to home cage' can serve as a reward for maze learning in adult male mice. The present study examined whether the same reward is an effective motivator of learning in young and old mice...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Blizard, D. A., Weinheimer, V. K, Klein, L. C. et al. 2006. 'Return to home cage' as a reward for maze learning in young and old genetically heterogeneous mice. Comparative Medicine 56(3), 196-201.