The effect of group vs. individual housing on behaviour and physiological responses to stress in the albino rat

Stern, John A.; Winokur, G.; Eisenstein, Albert B.; Taylor, Rita L.; Sly, M.

doi:10.1016/0022-3999(60)90010-6

Cited by 77 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The demonstration that early open-field ambulation of naive individually housed rats is lower than that of naive group-housed rats is consistent with several studies (see the introduction). This finding has often been interpreted in terms of a greater "emotional reactivity" of isolates (Ader & Friedman, 1964;Stern et al, 1960;Taylor, 1969), although a more precise suggestion (Archer, 1970) is that naive isolated rats exhibit reduced exploratory behavior compared with group-housed animals due to higher levels of "fear responses," such as freezing. No direct measures of freezing behavior were taken in this study, but isolates in particular showed considerable immobility at the beginning of open-field testing.…”

Section: Activity Monitormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, in open-field studies several workers have found individually housed rats to be significantly more active than group-housed rats (Domjan, Schorr, & Best, 1977;Einon & Morgan, 1977;Sahakian, Robbins, & Iverson, 1977). The opposite result, greater open-field motor activity in group-housed than in isolated rats, has also been reported regularly (Ader & Friedman, 1964;Moyer & Kom, 1965;Stern, Winokur, Eisenstein, Taylor, & Sly, 1960). It is important to clarify this issue because isolation-induced behavioral changes have often been suggested as animal models of abnormal behavior (Nishikawa & Tanaka, 1978;Speiser & Weinstock, 1973).…”

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confidence: 93%

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Activity differences of individually and group-housed male and female rats

Dalrymple‐Alford

Benton

1981

Animal Learning & Behavior

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Previous comparisons of the activity differences of individually and group-housed rats have produced inconsistent findings; therefore, we examined activity using three measures: openfield ambulation, nonspecific circadian activity, and rearing behavior. Open-field ambulation in two 5·day tests confirmed our prediction that isolates would be initially less active but later more active than group·housed rats. Isolates habituated more slowly to the activity monitor and tended to be more active during the light half of the 24·h cycle. In the rearing test, isolates showed elevated and more persistent activity than group-housed rats. All these activity differences were prevalent in both male and female rats. The results are interpreted in terms of the influence of differential housing on "fear responses," exploration of a novel environment, and differences in habituation/adaptation processes.

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Section: Activity Monitormentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 93%

Activity differences of individually and group-housed male and female rats

Dalrymple‐Alford

Benton

1981

Animal Learning & Behavior

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“…However, as Hahn (1965) has pointed out, the term "emotionality" must be used with caution. Stern et al (1960) suggested that the exploratory behavior of isolated Ss (as in the emergence test) was restricted because of prior restrictions on such behavior in their home cages and that group housing has a "gentling" effect which is probably due to the greater amount and variety of sensory experiences to which these Ss had been exposed. In contrast to exploratory behavior, it has been found (Hahn, 1965;stern et aI, 1960) that the response to 504 stress is greater (more emotional) in group-housed Ss than in isolates following prolonged restraint, a situation which has greater similarity to the previous history of the isolated Ss.…”

Section: Bealt and Diea •• Lonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral effects of isolation in the rat

Moyer

Korn

1965

Psychon Sci

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Ab.traetMale albino rats were raised either invidually (N = 13) or in groups (N = 12) from weaning at 21 days of age until they were tested at 111 days of age. Experimenter ratings and a "timidity" test showed the isolated Ss to be more emotional than group-raised Ss. No significant differences were found on startle or activity tests. ProbleDlAccording to Hatch et al (1963), after being housed for three months in an individual cage, "the isolated rat is a nervous, aggressive intractable animal." Objective tests, such as the open field and the emergence or "timidity" test (Ader & Friedman,1964; Hahn,1965; Stern, et aI, 1960) also support the conclusion that isolated rats are more emotional than group-housed rats. The purpose of the present study was to replicate some of the findings with respect to emotionality and to determine, by means of a startle test, whether the general level of arousal is higher in animals which have been isolated. MethodAt weaning (21 days of age), 30 male albino rats were assigned to either a group (8 or 7 Ss/cage) or an individual cage using a split litter control. The group cages measured 9-1/2 by 7 by 24 in and the single cages were 7 by 7 by 9-1/2 in. As a result of disease or experimenter error two isolated and three group-housed Ss were lost before testing. Animals were housed under standard laboratory conditions with food and water ad lib in external hoppers and bottles.At 111 days of age, Ss in group cages were put into single cages which were randomly distributed among the cages of Ss which had been raised in isolation. Each cage was individually numbered, but . in no way could the cages be differentiated by group. About 1 hr. later, an E who had not taken part in assigning grouped Ss to single cages rated the Ss on a 6-point scale for emotionality. The test involved picking up the S (gloved hand over the S's back), plaCing it on an adjacent table and then replacing it in its cage. The following ratings were applied: 0 -S made no attempt to escape from E and did not vocalize or jump; 1 -startle response on first attempt to handle S, but no vocalization or vigorous escape attempts; 2 -startle and vocalization; 3 -startle, greater vocalization and vigorous escape attempts; 4 -extreme vocalization and struggling, defecation; 5 -.same as 4

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“…Previous studies have reported conflicting results: Stern et al (1960), Thiessen et al (1962), Thiessen (1963), and Moyer & Korn (1965) all showed that group-housing leads to an increase in open field activity compared with isolation. The reverse was found by Essman (1966) and Weltman et al (1966).…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

Contrasting effects of group housing and isolation on subsequent open field exploration in laboratory rats

Archer

1969

Psychon Sci

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The effect of group vs. individual housing on behaviour and physiological responses to stress in the albino rat

Cited by 77 publications

References 7 publications

Activity differences of individually and group-housed male and female rats

Activity differences of individually and group-housed male and female rats

Behavioral effects of isolation in the rat

Contrasting effects of group housing and isolation on subsequent open field exploration in laboratory rats

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