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Anxiolytic Treatment Impairs Helping Behavior in Rats
Inbal Ben-Ami Bartal1, Haozhe Shan1, Nora M R Molasky1
1Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago Chicago, IL, USA.
Frontiers in Psychology
|July 5, 2016
Summary
Rats help trapped cagemates, demonstrating pro-social behavior. Affective responses, not stress hormones, motivate helping, suggesting empathy
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Behavior
- Psychology
Background:
- Biological mechanisms of pro-sociality remain unclear.
- Rodent helping behavior offers a model for studying empathy.
- Previous research established a rat helping behavior test.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the biological underpinnings of helping behavior in rats.
- Determine the role of affective state in motivating pro-social actions.
- Explore the influence of stress and reward on helping.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a helping behavior test with rats and trapped cagemates.
- Administered midazolam (anxiolytic) and nadolol (beta-blocker) to assess drug effects.
- Measured corticosterone levels to evaluate stress responses.
- Analyzed door-opening patterns for reinforcement effects.
Main Results:
- Midazolam reduced helping behavior, but not chocolate-seeking, indicating socially specific effects.
- Nadolol did not impair helping behavior.
- High corticosterone levels correlated with decreased helping; low levels correlated with increased helping.
- Helping a trapped rat was more reinforcing than obtaining chocolate.
Conclusions:
- Affective state is crucial for motivating rodent pro-social behavior.
- Stress negatively impacts helping behavior.
- Rodent helping behavior provides insights into the biological basis of human empathy.
