Stereotypic route-tracing in experimentally-cage songbirds correlates with general behavioural disinhibition (2003)

Garner, J. P., Mason, G. J., Smith, R.

Abstract

These results suggest that housing conditions that cause stereotypy thus alter many aspects of the behavioural control of subjects, mediated by altered striatal functioning. The implications for understanding stereotypies in laboratory, farm and zoo animals, and for laboratory-based behavioural are discussed. We suggest that improving housing conditions so that cage stereotypies do develop would enhance the validity of laboratory-based behavioural research.