Adaptive Interactions of Rats with Dangerous Inanimate Objects: Support for a Cognitive Theory of Defensive Behavior

Pinel, John P. J.; Mana, Michael J.

doi:10.1007/978-94-009-2403-1_8

Cited by 30 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…However, when risk assessment is itself the predominant ongoing behavior, decreased risk assessment is also associated with reduced defensiveness. This view is compatible with findings that risk assessment is associated with gathering of information about the threat source (Pinel and Mana, 1989) as well as analyses (Blanchard et al, 1991a) of the role of these activities in maintaining or reducing defensiveness, in accord with the information that these activities provide concerning threat or danger. From this perspective, reduced risk assessment and decreased behavioral inhibition (i.e.…”

Section: The Anxiety/defense Test Batterysupporting

confidence: 83%

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The Mouse Defense Test Battery: pharmacological and behavioral assays for anxiety and panic

Blanchard

Griebel

Blanchard

2003

European Journal of Pharmacology

258

159

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The Mouse Defense Test Battery was developed from tests of defensive behaviors in rats, reflecting earlier studies of both acute and chronic responses of laboratory and wild rodents to threatening stimuli and situations. It measures flight, freezing, defensive threat and attack, and risk assessment in response to an unconditioned predator stimulus, as well as pretest activity and postthreat (conditioned) defensiveness to the test context. Factor analyses of these indicate four factors relating to cognitive and emotional aspects of defense, flight, and defensiveness to the test context. In the Mouse Defense Test Battery, GABA A -benzodiazepine anxiolytics produce consistent reductions in defensive threat/attack and risk assessment, while panicolytic and panicogenic drugs selectively reduce and enhance, respectively, flight. Effects of GABA A -benzodiazepine, serotonin, and neuropeptide ligands in the Mouse Defense Test Battery are reviewed. This review suggests that the Mouse Defense Test Battery is a sensitive and appropriate tool for preclinical evaluation of drugs potentially effective against defense-related disorders such as anxiety and panic. D

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Section: The Anxiety/defense Test Batterysupporting

confidence: 83%

“…In line with this view, movement during the ''stretchapproach'' phase of risk assessment is punctate, marked by periods of motionlessness interspersed with rapid, stealthy movement. Pinel and Mana (1989) have shown that this activity is associated with gathering of information about the threat source.…”

Section: Phenomenological Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mouse Defense Test Battery: pharmacological and behavioral assays for anxiety and panic

Blanchard

Griebel

Blanchard

2003

European Journal of Pharmacology

258

159

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“…These responses, originally identified in specially constructed visible burrow systems, are characterized by cautious approaches to a surface area where a predator (cat) has briefly been presented and include i) scanning the danger area from tunnel openings, ii) stretched attend, or flatback, postures directed towards the danger area and iii) stretched, or flatback, locomotion upon initial re-entry into the danger area. Very simi-R.J. Rodgers et al lar behaviour patterns have been observed in the rat defensive burying paradigm (36,37) and in mice exposed to conspecific odours (38,39), supporting the contention that their function is to inform behavioural strategy in potentially dangerous situations (18,40). As many animal models of anxiety are based upon exploration of novel (and, hence, potentially dangerous) environments, it would be predicted that these situations should also elicit risk assessment.…”

Section: Defensive Behaviour: a Way Forwardmentioning

confidence: 94%

Animal models of anxiety: an ethological perspective

Rodgers¹,

Cao²,

Dalvi³

et al. 1997

Braz J Med Biol Res

538

244

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In the field of anxiety research, animal models are used as screening tools in the search for compounds with therapeutic potential and as simulations for research on mechanisms underlying emotional behaviour. However, a solely pharmacological approach to the validation of such tests has resulted in distinct problems with their applicability to systems other than those involving the benzodiazepine/GABA A receptor complex. In this context, recent developments in our understanding of mammalian defensive behaviour have not only prompted the development of new models but also attempts to refine existing ones. The present review focuses on the application of ethological techniques to one of the most widely used animal models of anxiety, the elevated plus-maze paradigm. This fresh approach to an established test has revealed a hitherto unrecognized multidimensionality to plus-maze behaviour and, as it yields comprehensive behavioural profiles, has many advantages over conventional methodology. This assertion is supported by reference to recent work on the effects of diverse manipulations including psychosocial stress, benzodiazepines, GABA receptor ligands, neurosteroids, 5-HT 1A receptor ligands, and panicolytic/panicogenic agents. On the basis of this review, it is suggested that other models of anxiety may well benefit from greater attention to behavioural detail.

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“…A body of evidence indicates that the behavior of risk assessment can be an indicator of the degree of anxiety in rats. Risk assessment is closely related to fear and anxiety in potentially dangerous situations (19,30) and is a common response of rats to noxious stimuli evoked in a non-social context (31). The conduct of risk assessment also shows a high correlation with the release of corticosterone (19), being sensitive to the effects of anxiogenic and anxiolytic drugs (32,33).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%