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Author |
Neuringer, A. |
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Title |
Reinforced variability in animals and people: implications for adaptive action |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2004 |
Publication |
The American Psychologist |
Abbreviated Journal |
Am Psychol |
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Volume |
59 |
Issue |
9 |
Pages |
891-906 |
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Animals; Behavior, Animal; *Choice Behavior; Conditioning, Operant; Creativeness; Discrimination (Psychology); Humans; Memory; Problem Solving; *Reinforcement (Psychology) |
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Abstract |
Although reinforcement often leads to repetitive, even stereotyped responding, that is not a necessary outcome. When it depends on variations, reinforcement results in responding that is diverse, novel, indeed unpredictable, with distributions sometimes approaching those of a random process. This article reviews evidence for the powerful and precise control by reinforcement over behavioral variability, evidence obtained from human and animal-model studies, and implications of such control. For example, reinforcement of variability facilitates learning of complex new responses, aids problem solving, and may contribute to creativity. Depression and autism are characterized by abnormally repetitive behaviors, but individuals afflicted with such psychopathologies can learn to vary their behaviors when reinforced for so doing. And reinforced variability may help to solve a basic puzzle concerning the nature of voluntary action. |
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Department of Psychology, Reed College, Portland, OR 97202, USA. allen.neuringer@reed.edu |
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0003-066X |
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PMID:15584823 |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4106 |
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Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Kralj-Fiser, S.; Scheiber, I.B.R.; Blejec, A.; Moestl, E.; Kotrschal, K. |
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Title |
Individualities in a flock of free-roaming greylag geese: behavioral and physiological consistency over time and across situations |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Hormones and Behavior |
Abbreviated Journal |
Horm Behav |
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Volume |
51 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
239-248 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Behavior, Animal/*physiology; Corticosterone/metabolism; Feces; Female; Geese/*physiology; Individuality; Male; Personality/*physiology; Population Density; Reproducibility of Results; Seasons; *Social Behavior; Social Environment; Testosterone/*metabolism |
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Abstract |
The concept of personality implies individual differences in behavior and physiology that show some degree of repeatability/consistency over time and across contexts. Most studies of animal personality, particularly studies of individuals' variation in physiological mechanisms, have been conducted on selected individuals in controlled conditions. We attempted to detect consistent behaviors as well as physiological patterns in greylag ganders (Anser anser) from a free-roaming flock living in semi-natural conditions. We tested 10 individuals repeatedly, in a handling trial, resembling tests for characterization of “temperaments” in captive animals. We recorded the behavior of the same 10 individuals during four situations in the socially intact flock: (1) a “low density feeding condition”, (2) a “high density feeding condition”, (3) a “low density post-feeding situation” and (4) while the geese rested. We collected fecal samples for determination of excreted immuno-reactive corticosterone (BM) and testosterone metabolites (TM) after handling trials, as well as the “low density feeding” and the “high density feeding” conditions. BM levels were very highly consistent over the repeats of handling trials, and the “low density feeding condition” and tended to be consistent over the first two repeats of the “high density feeding condition”. Also, BM responses tended to be consistent across contexts. Despite seasonal variation, there tended to be inter-test consistency of TM, which pointed to some individual differences in TM as well. Aggressiveness turned out to be a highly repeatable trait, which was consistent across social situations, and tended to correlate with an individual's resistance during handling trials. Also, “proximity to the female partner” and “sociability” – the average number of neighboring geese in a close distance while resting – were consistent. We conclude that aggressiveness, “affiliative tendencies” and levels of excreted corticosterone and testosterone metabolites may be crucial factors of personality in geese. |
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University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty, Slovenia. simona.kralj@guest.arnes.si |
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0018-506X |
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PMID:17196200 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4189 |
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Author |
Baum, M.J. |
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Title |
Mammalian animal models of psychosexual differentiation: when is 'translation' to the human situation possible? |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Hormones and Behavior |
Abbreviated Journal |
Horm Behav |
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Volume |
50 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
579-588 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Estradiol/*physiology; Female; *Gender Identity; Humans; Hypothalamus/anatomy & histology/physiology; Male; Models, Animal; Sexual Behavior/physiology/psychology; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology; Testosterone/*physiology |
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Clinical investigators have been forced primarily to use experiments of nature (e.g., cloacal exstrophy; androgen insensitivity, congenital adrenal hyperplasia) to assess the contribution of fetal sex hormone exposure to the development of male- and female-typical profiles of gender identity and role behavior as well as sexual orientation. In this review, I summarize the results of numerous correlative as well as mechanistic animal experiments that shed significant light on general neuroendocrine mechanisms controlling the differentiation of neural circuits controlling sexual partner preference (sexual orientation) in mammalian species including man. I also argue, however, that results of animal studies can, at best, provide only indirect insights into the neuroendocrine determinants of human gender identity and role behaviors. |
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Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Sreet, Boston, MA 02215, USA. baum@bu.edu |
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0018-506X |
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PMID:16876166 |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4190 |
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Author |
Franceschini, C.; Siutz, C.; Palme, R.; Millesi, E. |
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Title |
Seasonal changes in cortisol and progesterone secretion in Common hamsters |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
General and Comparative Endocrinology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Gen Comp Endocrinol |
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Volume |
152 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
14-21 |
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Animals; Cortisone/*secretion; Cricetinae/*metabolism; Feces/chemistry; Female; Lactation/physiology; Male; Pregnancy; Progesterone/*secretion; Reproduction/physiology; *Seasons; Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology |
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Abstract |
In this study, we investigated endocrine factors and behaviour in free-living Common hamsters (Cricetus cricetus) during reproductive and non-reproductive periods of the annual cycle. We applied a non-invasive method to gain information on seasonal changes in adrenocortical activity in male and female hamsters by analysing faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations (FCM). In addition, plasma progesterone concentrations were monitored in females throughout the non-hibernation season. The animals were live-trapped from spring emergence until the onset of hibernation in autumn. Reproductive status was determined at capture and blood and faecal samples were collected. During behavioural observations, agonistic and sexual interactions were recorded. FCM concentrations were significantly higher in males than in females during the reproductive period. In males, a pronounced increase in FCM during the reproductive period coincided with high frequencies of intrasexual aggression. In females, FCM levels remained relatively constant. Aggressive behaviour in females increased during the reproductive period, but was much less frequent than in males. Females, which successfully raised a second litter after a postpartum oestrus and concurrent lactation and gestation had lower FCM levels than individuals, which lost their second litter after parturition. As expected, plasma progesterone concentrations were low before and after the reproductive period. During gestation, levels peaked and remained elevated during lactation. The results of this field study provide insight in critical periods associated with reproduction in male and female Common hamsters. |
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Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. claudia.franceschini@univie.ac.ct |
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0016-6480 |
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PMID:17408667 |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4076 |
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Author |
Pritchard, J.C.; Lindberg, A.C.; Main, D.C.J.; Whay, H.R. |
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Title |
Assessment of the welfare of working horses, mules and donkeys, using health and behaviour parameters |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Preventive Veterinary Medicine |
Abbreviated Journal |
Prev Vet Med |
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Volume |
69 |
Issue |
3-4 |
Pages |
265-283 |
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Keywords |
*Animal Welfare; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Developing Countries; *Equidae; Female; Health; Male |
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Abstract |
Working animals provide an essential transport resource in developing countries worldwide. Many of these animals are owned by poor people and work in harsh environments, so their welfare is a cause for concern. A protocol was developed to assess the welfare of working horses, mules and donkeys in urban and peri-urban areas, using direct observation of health and behaviour parameters. In this study, 4903 animals used for draught, pack and ridden work in Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Jordan and Pakistan were assessed between December 2002 and April 2003. The data showed that donkeys were more likely than mules or horses to demonstrate avoidance or aggressive behaviour towards an observer, while horses were most likely to make a friendly approach. Fewer than 8% of working equines had abnormal mucous membranes, ectoparasites or poor coat condition. Body lesions occurred predominantly in the areas of the breast/shoulder, withers and girth in all three species, with mules having the highest prevalence of lesions in these areas (22.5, 21.3 and 28.4%, respectively). Among horses and donkeys, the prevalence of these lesions was influenced by the type of work carried out. Lesions on the head, neck, ribs, flank and tail base were seen in less than 10% of animals. Across all three species approximately 70% of animals were thin, having a body condition score (BCS) of 2 or less on a scale of 1-5 (1, very thin; 5, very fat) and more horses were in very thin condition (BCS 1) than mules or donkeys. Over 75% of animals demonstrated limb deformities and abnormalities of gait. The results of this study are being used as the initial stage of a long-term strategy to inform priorities for welfare interventions in working equines and to establish a welfare benchmark. Subsequent stages will rank the welfare concerns identified, assess the contributing risk factors and implement specific interventions to address these risks. Following intervention, success in improving welfare will be measured by repetition of this protocol and comparison with the benchmark. |
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Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK. joy.pritchard@bristol.ac.uk |
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0167-5877 |
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PMID:15907574 |
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no |
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1889 |
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Author |
Overli, O.; Sorensen, C.; Pulman, K.G.T.; Pottinger, T.G.; Korzan, W.; Summers, C.H.; Nilsson, G.E. |
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Evolutionary background for stress-coping styles: relationships between physiological, behavioral, and cognitive traits in non-mammalian vertebrates |
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Journal Article |
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2007 |
Publication |
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews |
Abbreviated Journal |
Neurosci Biobehav Rev |
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31 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
396-412 |
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Adaptation, Psychological/*physiology; Animals; Behavior, Animal/*physiology; Biogenic Monoamines/physiology; Brain/physiology; Cognition/*physiology; Evolution; Glucocorticoids/*physiology; Individuality; Lizards; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Social Dominance; Stress, Psychological/*psychology |
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Reactions to stress vary between individuals, and physiological and behavioral responses tend to be associated in distinct suites of correlated traits, often termed stress-coping styles. In mammals, individuals exhibiting divergent stress-coping styles also appear to exhibit intrinsic differences in cognitive processing. A connection between physiology, behavior, and cognition was also recently demonstrated in strains of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) selected for consistently high or low cortisol responses to stress. The low-responsive (LR) strain display longer retention of a conditioned response, and tend to show proactive behaviors such as enhanced aggression, social dominance, and rapid resumption of feed intake after stress. Differences in brain monoamine neurochemistry have also been reported in these lines. In comparative studies, experiments with the lizard Anolis carolinensis reveal connections between monoaminergic activity in limbic structures, proactive behavior in novel environments, and the establishment of social status via agonistic behavior. Together these observations suggest that within-species diversity of physiological, behavioral and cognitive correlates of stress responsiveness is maintained by natural selection throughout the vertebrate sub-phylum. |
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Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 As, Norway. oyvind.overli@umb.no |
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0149-7634 |
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PMID:17182101 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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2801 |
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Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Sarter, M. |
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Title |
Animal cognition: defining the issues |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2004 |
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Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews |
Abbreviated Journal |
Neurosci Biobehav Rev |
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28 |
Issue |
7 |
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645-650 |
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Animals; Behavior, Animal/*physiology; Cognition/*physiology; Humans; *Models, Animal; Psychopharmacology/methods; Reproducibility of Results |
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Abstract |
The assessment of cognitive functions in rodents represents a critical experimental variable in many research fields, ranging from the basic cognitive neurosciences to psychopharmacology and neurotoxicology. The increasing use of animal behavioral tests as 'assays' for the assessment of effects on learning and memory has resulted in a considerable heterogeneity of data, particularly in the field of behavioral and psycho pharmacology. The limited predictive validity of changes in behavioral performance observed in standard animal tests of learning and memory indicates that a renewed effort to scrutinize the validity of these tests is warranted. In humans, levels of processing (effortful vs. automatic) and categories of information (procedural vs. episodic/declarative) are important variables of cognitive operations. The design of tasks that assess the recall of 'episodic' or 'declarative' information appears to represent a particular challenge for research using laboratory rodents. For example, the hypothesis that changes in inspection time for a previously encountered place or object are based on the recall of declarative/episodic information requires substantiation. In order to generalize findings on the effects of neuronal or pharmacological manipulations on learning and memory, obtained from one species and one task, to other species and other tasks, the mediating role of important sets of variables which influence learning and memory (e.g. attentional, affective) needs to be determined. Similar to the view that a neuronal manipulation (e.g. a lesion) represents a theory of the condition modeled (e.g. a degenerative disorder), an animal behavioral task represents a theory of the behavioral/cognitive process of interest. Therefore, the test of hypotheses regarding the validity of procedures used to assess cognitive functions in animals is an inherent part of the research process. |
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Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 4032 East Hall, 525 E. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1109, USA. msarter@umich.edu |
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0149-7634 |
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PMID:15555674 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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2804 |
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Landsberg, G.; Araujo, J.A. |
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Behavior problems in geriatric pets |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice |
Abbreviated Journal |
Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract |
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35 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
675-698 |
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Aging/*pathology/physiology/*psychology; Animals; *Behavior, Animal; Cats/*physiology/psychology; Cognition/physiology; Diagnosis, Differential; Dogs/*physiology/psychology; Preventive Medicine |
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Aging pets often suffer a decline in cognitive function (eg, memory,learning, perception, awareness) likely associated with age-dependent brain alterations. Clinically, cognitive dysfunction may result in various behavioral signs, including disorientation; forgetting of previously learned behaviors, such as house training; alterations in the manner in which the pet interacts with people or other pets;onset of new fears and anxiety; decreased recognition of people, places, or pets; and other signs of deteriorating memory and learning ability. Many medical problems, including other forms of brain pathologic conditions, can contribute to these signs. The practitioner must first determine the cause of the behavioral signs and then determine an appropriate course of treatment, bearing in mind the constraints of the aging process. A diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction syndrome is made once other medical and behavioral causes are ruled out. |
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Doncaster Animal Clinic, 99 Henderson Avenue, Thornhill, Ontario L3T2K9, Canada. gmlandvm@aol.com |
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0195-5616 |
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PMID:15833565 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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2855 |
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Author |
Gould, J.L. |
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Title |
Animal cognition |
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Journal Article |
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2004 |
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Current Biology : CB |
Abbreviated Journal |
Curr Biol |
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14 |
Issue |
10 |
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R372-5 |
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Animals; Awareness; Behavior, Animal/*physiology; Cognition/*physiology; Concept Formation; Decision Making; Instinct; Intelligence/*physiology; Learning/*physiology; Species Specificity |
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Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA. gould@princeton.edu |
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0960-9822 |
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PMID:15186759 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4169 |
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Author |
Piccione, G.; Caola, G.; Refinetti, R. |
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Title |
Temporal relationships of 21 physiological variables in horse and sheep |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol |
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Volume |
142 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
389-396 |
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Animals; Behavior, Animal/physiology; Blood Glucose/physiology; Body Temperature/*physiology; Circadian Rhythm/*physiology; Female; Horses/*physiology; Melatonin/blood/*physiology; Motor Activity/*physiology; Rectum/physiology; Sheep/*physiology; Time Factors |
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Daily or circadian oscillation has been documented in a variety of physiological and behavioral processes. Although individual variables have been studied in great detail, very few studies have been conducted on the temporal relationships between the rhythms of different variables. It is not known whether the circadian pacemaker generates each and every rhythm individually or whether most rhythms are simply derived from a few clock-controlled rhythms. As a first step in elucidating this issue, 21 physiological variables were recorded simultaneously in horse and sheep. The results indicated that, in both species, different variables exhibit different degrees of daily rhythmicity and reach their daily peaks at different times of the day. The variables exhibiting strongest rhythmicity were locomotor activity, rectal temperature, and plasma concentrations of melatonin and glucose. Comparison of rhythmicity and acrophase in the various rhythms allowed inferences to be made about mechanisms of causation. |
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Dipartimento di Morfologia, Biochimica, Fisiologia e Produzioni Animali, Facolta di Medicina Veterinaria, Universita degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy |
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1095-6433 |
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PMID:16290083 |
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no |
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Call Number |
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1884 |
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