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Validation of a combined approach-avoidance and conditioned stimulus aversion paradigm for evaluating aversion in
Emmarentia W du Plessis1, Ngaio J Beausoleil1, Charlotte F Bolwell1
1School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Plos One
|February 25, 2021
Summary
This study validates a new method for assessing animal aversion without direct exposure to aversive stimuli. Chickens demonstrated aversion to a predicted air puff using a conditioned stimulus, improving welfare assessment accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Animal Welfare Science
- Ethology
Background:
- Assessing animal aversion is crucial for welfare, often using approach-avoidance (AA) tests.
- AA tests can be confounded if the aversive stimulus impairs an animal's ability to withdraw.
- A novel paradigm combining AA with a conditioned stimulus may allow aversion demonstration without direct exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate a new paradigm for testing aversion in chickens.
- To determine if chickens can demonstrate aversion to a predicted aversive event without direct exposure.
Main Methods:
- Seven Hyline-Brown chickens were used in a two-chambered box approach-avoidance test.
- Food rewards were presented in either a green bowl (no air puff) or a red bowl (predicted air puff).
- Behavioral responses, including entry, time spent, and entry success, were recorded with the air canister inactivated during testing.
Main Results:
- All chickens entered the test chamber with the green bowl.
- With the red bowl, fewer chickens fully entered, and they spent significantly less time in the test chamber compared to the green bowl.
- Increased partial entries and failures to enter indicated aversion to the air puff predicted by the red bowl.
Conclusions:
- The validated paradigm effectively allows animals to demonstrate aversion to a predicted stimulus without direct exposure.
- This method enhances the accuracy of aversion assessment in animal welfare studies.
- The findings support the use of conditioned stimuli in approach-avoidance testing for improved welfare evaluations.
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