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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
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A Mouse Model of Subchronic and Mild Social Defeat Stress for Understanding Stress-induced Behavioral and Physiological Deficits
Published on: November 24, 2015
Measuring biting behavior induced by acute stress in the rat.
J L Zeredo1, Y Kumei, T Shibazaki
1Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. jllzeredo@unb.br
Behavior Research Methods
|July 10, 2009
Summary
Acute stress in rats increases jaw muscle activity, as measured by electromyography (EMG). While EMG is useful for stress response studies, video monitoring is crucial to specifically analyze biting behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Physiology
Background:
- Acute stress is known to enhance biting behavior in rats.
- Electromyography (EMG) of jaw muscles is a proposed method for studying stress-induced behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare total EMG activity with EMG activity specifically related to biting behavior.
- To assess the impact of restraint stress on jaw muscle EMG in Wistar albino rats.
Main Methods:
- Wistar albino rats underwent surgery for electrode implantation in jaw muscles.
- Masseter muscle EMG activity was recorded for 10 minutes before and after 30 minutes of restraint stress.
- Video monitoring was used concurrently to identify biting behavior.
Main Results:
- Restraint stress significantly increased overall jaw muscle EMG activity.
- A portion of the increased EMG activity was not directly attributable to biting behavior.
- EMG recordings showed increased jaw muscle activity post-stress.
Conclusions:
- Jaw muscle EMG is a valuable tool for quantifying the stress response in rats.
- Accurate assessment of stress-induced biting behavior requires supplementary video analysis.
- EMG combined with video monitoring offers a comprehensive approach to studying stress-related jaw activity.
