Exploration and predation models of anxiety: Evidence from laboratory and wild species

Hendrie, Colin; Weiss, Scott Μ.; Eilam, David

doi:10.1016/0091-3057(95)02176-0

Cited by 78 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Such an innate "recognition" of predator odor is a survival advantage. In parallel, an innate recognition of visual and acoustic predator cues has also been discussed in other studies (e.g., Hirsch and Bolles, 1980;Hendrie, 1991;Hendrie et al, 1996;Eilam et al, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Exposure to Urine of Canids and Felids, but not of Herbivores, Induces Defensive Behavior in Laboratory Rats

Fendt

2006

J Chem Ecol

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Predator odors induce defensive behavior in many prey species. For various reasons, studies carried out up to now have been unable to establish whether predator odor recognition is innate or not. Mostly, only particular odors or wild-living (i.e., experienced) test animals have been used in these studies, restricting the conclusiveness of the observations. In the present study, the behavioral effects of exposure to different predator odors on predator odor-naive laboratory male rats were compared with the effects of different nonpredator odors and of a no-odor control stimulus. Results show that exposure to urine of canids and felids, but not of herbivores or conspecifics, induce defensive behaviors. Taken together, the study provides support for the hypothesis that there is an innate recognition of predator odors in laboratory rats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Exposure to Urine of Canids and Felids, but not of Herbivores, Induces Defensive Behavior in Laboratory Rats

Fendt

2006

J Chem Ecol

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“…The fact that three male mice did actually jump from the maze (and were excluded from the full analysis) supports this assertion. It is also relevant to note that previous attempts to study anxiety-related behavior in wild mice were precluded by what was described as the``explosive'' escape-directed response to the test situation per se [33]. It is possible that differences in visual abilities contributed to the differences between wild and laboratory/ Swiss mice, with superior vision in wild mice working to guide their behavior in the plus-maze.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As this pattern was repeated on a second attempt (see also Ref. [33]), these animals were removed from the study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In one study [33] of the defensive reactivity of wild mice (M. musculus) to predator-related stimuli, the`explosive' response of wild mice to the test apparatus per se totally precluded assessment of their behavior. Furthermore, although wild voles (Microtus socialis) show patterns of elevated plus-maze exploration similar to those seen in laboratory rodents (i.e., open arm avoidance), wild spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) display an apparent``preference'' for the open arms [34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Behavioral profile of wild mice in the elevated plus-maze test for anxiety

Holmes

Parmigiani

Ferrari

et al. 2000

Physiology & Behavior

130

104

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“…Furthermore, behaviors pertaining to both anxiety and learned fear appear related to those pertaining to innate defensive reactions against predators (such as the aversion to cat urine among rodents). For example, the exploration models widely used to measure anxiety in laboratory rodents are based on the assumption of a conflict between defense (from interspecific and intraspecific threats) and foraging (18,19). Similarly, fear conditioning measures adaptive memory related to stimuli associated with danger, which is therefore capable of inducing defensive behaviors (15).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral changes induced by Toxoplasma infection of rodents are highly specific to aversion of cat odors

Vyas

Kim²,

Giacomini

et al. 2007

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

517

546

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The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii blocks the innate aversion of rats for cat urine, instead producing an attraction to the pheromone; this may increase the likelihood of a cat predating a rat. This is thought to reflect adaptive, behavioral manipulation by Toxoplasma in that the parasite, although capable of infecting rats, reproduces sexually only in the gut of the cat. The ''behavioral manipulation'' hypothesis postulates that a parasite will specifically manipulate host behaviors essential for enhancing its own transmission. However, the neural circuits implicated in innate fear, anxiety, and learned fear all overlap considerably, raising the possibility that Toxoplasma may disrupt all of these nonspecifically. We investigated these conflicting predictions. In mice and rats, latent Toxoplasma infection converted the aversion to feline odors into attraction. Such loss of fear is remarkably specific, because infection did not diminish learned fear, anxiety-like behavior, olfaction, or nonaversive learning. These effects are associated with a tendency for parasite cysts to be more abundant in amygdalar structures than those found in other regions of the brain. By closely examining other types of behavioral patterns that were predicted to be altered we show that the behavioral effect of chronic Toxoplasma infection is highly specific. Overall, this study provides a strong argument in support of the behavioral manipulation hypothesis. Proximate mechanisms of such behavioral manipulations remain unknown, although a subtle tropism on part of the parasite remains a potent possibility.behavioral manipulation ͉ fear ͉ parasites ͉ predator T he ''behavioral manipulation'' hypothesis states that a parasite can alter host behavior specifically to increase its own transmission efficiency (1, 2). After an acute infection, the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii latently persists in the brain for the life of an infected host, offering an opportunity to study the behavioral manipulation hypothesis (3). Toxoplasma reproduces sexually in a two-species life cycle (4). The sexual phase of its reproduction occurs in the feline intestine, from which highly stable oocysts are excreted in the feces. Grazing animals, including rodents, can then ingest these oocysts. In these hosts, Toxoplasma forms cysts and persists in the central nervous system. The life cycle is completed when a cat eats an infected animal. Recent reports indicate that the parasite blunts the innate aversion of rats for the urine of cats, converting this aversion to an attraction (5), although it does not interfere with energetically costly behaviors related to mating success and social status (6). These findings agree with the behavioral manipulation hypothesis, which predicts that parasites will alter only behaviors that are beneficial to their transmission while leaving other behaviors intact.Several studies have investigated the innate fear of laboratory rodents toward cat odors (7-11). These studies have delineated a neuroanatomical circuit comprising ...

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Exploration and predation models of anxiety: Evidence from laboratory and wild species

Cited by 78 publications

References 29 publications

Exposure to Urine of Canids and Felids, but not of Herbivores, Induces Defensive Behavior in Laboratory Rats

Exposure to Urine of Canids and Felids, but not of Herbivores, Induces Defensive Behavior in Laboratory Rats

Behavioral profile of wild mice in the elevated plus-maze test for anxiety

Behavioral changes induced by Toxoplasma infection of rodents are highly specific to aversion of cat odors

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